Painful bone metastases can be treated with radiotherapy, and single-fraction radiotherapy with 1 × 8 Gy has been shown to be as effective for pain relief as multi-fraction regimens. The authors discuss why single-fraction radiotherapy is considered the standard regimen for uncomplicated painful bone metastases without pathological fractures or spinal cord compression, and highlight the reasons why long-course multi-fraction radiotherapy should be reserved for patients with a relatively favorable survival prognosis.
- Dirk Rades
- Steven E. Schild
- Janet L. Abrahm
