Low dose single fraction radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic bone pain: a pilot study.
Single fraction radiotherapy can be used effectively to palliate painful bone metastases. The optimal single dose of radiotherapy required for pain relief is unknown. Twenty-six patients have been treated with a single fraction of 4 Gy to the site of the bone pain. Partial pain relief was seen in 9/21 (5%). Response occurred within 3 weeks of radiotherapy. These results question the mechanism of pain relief following radiotherapy and suggest a method of pain control using single repeatable low dose treatments.
Price
P
P
Academic Radiotherapy Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Hoskin
P J
PJ
Easton
D
D
Austin
D
D
Palmer
S
S
Yarnold
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage