Radiotherapy in palliative treatment of painful bone metastases

Abstract

types of cancer with systemic dissemination, especially breast cancer, prostate and lung cancer, with the incidence of approximately 70%, 70% and 35%, respectively. 3 Lesions occurring in breast, lung, prostate and kidney comprise 80% of all metastases to bone. 4 Bone metastases are associated with considerable skeletal morbidity, including severe bone pain, spinal cord or nerve root compression, pathological fractures and hypercalcaemia. [5][6][7][8][9] Although the skeleton receives only 10% of the cardiac output, metastases in the skeleton are very common as compared to metastases to other tissues receiving a far greater amount of the cardiac output. 10 The bone metastases are found almost invaria- IntroductionPain caused by bone metastases is the most common symptom requiring the treatment in cancer patients and they often present as the first evidence of disseminated disease.

Role of 18F-choline PET/CT in evaluation of patients with prostate carcinoma

“…Of relapsing patients, 50% will have local recurrence and 50% systemic disease with or without local recurrence. Therefore, the localisation of recurrent prostate cancer is critical for selecting a local or systemic therapeutic strategy 15. Modern fusion imaging with 18 F-choline PET/CT has augmented the diagnostic imaging spectrum for the assessment of relapsing prostate cancer.…”

Comparison of pain response and functional interference outcomes between spinal and non-spinal bone metastases treated with palliative radiotherapy

“…Over the past few decades, there have been numerous studies which have proven the efficacy of radiotherapy for pain relief of bone metastases [4][5][6][7][8]; however, there is a lack of data in regard to whether the site of bone metastases influences response to radiation and, moreover, functional interference outcomes. In particular, it is unknown whether the spine may have a differential response to palliative radiotherapy, or potentially have a greater effect in terms of interference with daily functioning given its role as the body's backbone.…”

The Role of Bone-Seeking Radionuclides in the Palliative Treatment of Patients with Painful Osteoblastic Skeletal Metastases

“…It is more acute and severe and is often referred to as "breakthrough pain." 9,10 Beyond nonsteroidal and narcotic analgesics, external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is the most common form of palliation for pain arising from bone metastases. The American Society for Radiation Oncology recently published comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for the use of palliative EBRT for bone metastases.…”