RETREATMENT WITH RADIOTHERAPY FOR PAINFUL BONE METASTASES

Purpose: To evaluate the response to reirradiation of painful bone met astases following initial treatment with radiotherapy. Methods and Mat erials: A retrospective analysis of 105 consecutive patients treated w ith palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases. A total of 28 0 individual treatment sites were identified, of which 57 were retreat ed once and 8 were retreated twice. Results: The overall response rate to initial treatment was 84% for pain relief, and at first retreatmen t this was 87%. Seven of eight patients retreated a second time also a chieved pain relief. No relation to radiation dose, primary tumor type , or site was seen. Conclusions: In patients relapsing after radiother apy to painful bone metastases who have responded initially, reirradia tion can be recommended with a similar probability of response.