THE ROLE OF PALLIATIVE RADIOTHERAPY IN BONE METASTASES

Between December 1992 and May 1996, 81 patients with bone metastases were analyzed to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy for the relief of pain. The most frequent site of primary focus was the breast (32%), lung (26%) and prostat (1 %). In all patients major symptom was pain and pathologic fracture was observed in 7 patients. In 8 patients neurologic deficite developed according to the spinal cord compression by vertebral metastases. Total of 126 lesions were treated. The most frequent site of bone metastases were vertebra (45%), extremity (32.5%) and pelvis (22%). For 126 lesions dose schedules were; 3Gyx10 to 85 lesions, 2Gyx20 to 23 and 4Gyx5 to 18. Pain relief was evaluated at the end of the treatment as a complete, partial and no response; rates were 27%, 45% and 28% respectively. No severe morbidity was seen and requirement of retreatment was observed in one patient. No statistical difference was observed between response rates and primary disease, metastase location, dose schedule.