Cancer
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases during the last 12 weeks of life: results from the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study.
Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for painful bone metastases. Whether this applies also in patients with limited survival remains to be investigated. This study analyzed the effect of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases in patients with a survival < or =12 weeks. ⋯ Pain responded in about half of the patients who survived < or =12 weeks after randomization into the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study. When considering radiotherapy, single fraction should be preferred. Additional palliative measures remain essential for adequate pain control.