Management of painful bone metastases: our experience according to scientific evidence on palliative radiotherapy

Our aim was to evaluate retrospectively the role of the radiotherapy in the multi-disciplinary management of pain due to bone metastases. A total of 305 patients received radiotherapy with or without bisphosphonate and antalgic drugs. Tolerability and efficacy were evaluated using a Numerical Rating...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anticancer research 2014-02, Vol.34 (2), p.1011-1014
Main Authors: Di Franco, Rossella, Falivene, Sara, Ravo, Vincenzo, Mammucari, Massimo, Sarli, Ennio, Baffini, Stella, De Palma, Giampaolo, Pepe, Alfonsina, Traettino, Marianna, Muto, Matteo, Cappabianca, Salvatore, Muto, Paolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bone Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Bone Neoplasms - secondary
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Dose Fractionation
Female
Humans
Lung Neoplasms - pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Pain - etiology
Pain - radiotherapy
Pain Measurement - radiation effects
Palliative Care
Retrospective Studies
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Our aim was to evaluate retrospectively the role of the radiotherapy in the multi-disciplinary management of pain due to bone metastases. A total of 305 patients received radiotherapy with or without bisphosphonate and antalgic drugs. Tolerability and efficacy were evaluated using a Numerical Rating Scale, Pain Intensity Difference evaluation scale related to administration of the drug, a 5-point verbal scale of the patients' general impression. We found differences in some patient subgroups: pain reduction was significantly more evident in patients treated with a single-fraction radiotherapy scheme. Overall, 68% of patients experienced an improvement in pain control using concomitant drugs during radiotherapy. Our study underlines the role of radiotherapy in the management of metastatic bone pain. The use of rapid-onset opioids to prevent predictable pain is a crucial step in managing radiotherapy. An interdisciplinary approach is recommended.
ISSN:1791-7530