RADIOTHERAPY OF PAINFUL BONE METASTASES - WHAT EFFECT DOES SMALL-FRACTION RADIOTHERAPY HAVE

Bone metastases present a fragment problem in oncology. Although fract ionated irradiation with 10-20 fractions is the best mode of radiother apy, low-dose short-term irradiation schedules are of interest in pall iative, individualised radiotherapy. In three consecutive, prospective follow-up studies patients with painful nonvertebral bone metastases were irradiated a single 4 Gy treatment or four fractions with 4 Gy. R esponse rates and duration of response are significantly better with 4 x 4 Gy schedule. From our data is proposed, that individualised pain management is meaningful.