<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><bold>Background.</bold> Pain caused by bone metastases is the most common symptom requiring the treatment in cancer patients. Bone metastases often present as the first evidence of disseminated disease, the most common primary sites being breast, prostate, and lung. Important in palliative treatment is to reach a maximal effect with the minimal treatment. The aim of palliation for cancer patients is to increase the quality of their remaining life.</p><p><bold>Conclusions.</bold> The management of bone pain includes analgesics, local treatment (radiation, surgery) and systemic treatment (hormones, chemotherapy, radioisotopes and agents such as bisphosphonates). The treatment of bone cancer pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Radiotherapy remains the most important palliative treatment for localized bone pain. The treatment duration can generally be reduced to a single treatment with excellent and long-lasting palliative analgesic responses. The treatment should be individualized according to the patient's clinical condition and life expectancy.</p></abstract>

Background. Pain caused by bone metastases is the most common symptom requiring the treatment in cancer patients. Bone metastases often present as the first evidence of disseminated disease, the most common primary sites being breast, prostate, and lung. Important in palliative treatment is to reach a maximal effect with the minimal treatment. The aim of palliation for cancer patients is to increase the quality of their remaining life.Conclusions. The management of bone pain includes analgesics, local treatment (radiation, surgery) and systemic treatment (hormones, chemotherapy, radioisotopes and agents such as bisphosphonates). The treatment of bone cancer pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Radiotherapy remains the most important palliative treatment for localized bone pain. The treatment duration can generally be reduced to a single treatment with excellent and long-lasting palliative analgesic responses. The treatment should be individualized according to the patient's clinical condition and life expectancy.

Radiotherapy in palliative treatment of painful bone metastases

Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Radiology and Oncology

{"article-title":"Radiotherapy in palliative treatment of painful bone metastases"}

Background. Pain caused by bone metastases is the most common symptom requiring the treatment in cancer patients. Bone metastases often present as the first...

Radiotherapy in palliative treatment of painful bone metastases

Published Online: Nov 20, 2009

Page range: 213 - 224

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-009-0038-4

Keywords
bone metastases, palliative treatment, radiotherapy

This content is open access.

Radiotherapy in palliative treatment of painful bone metastases

Published Online: Nov 20, 2009

Page range: 213 - 224

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-009-0038-4

Keywordsbone metastases, palliative treatment, radiotherapy

This content is open access.

Keywords
bone metastases, palliative treatment, radiotherapy