Impact of radiotherapy on pain relief and recalcification in plasma cell neoplasms: long-term experience.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of radiotherapy on pain relief and on recalcification in patients with osteolytic lesions due to plasma cell neoplasm.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pain relief was evaluated according to a 0-10 verbal numerical rating scale (NRS) and recalcification was measured using radiological imaging.

RESULTS

From 1996-2007, 52 patients were treated (Table 1). Median total dose was 38 Gy (range, 16-50 Gy). Pain be-fore radiotherapy was reported by 45 of 52 (86.5%) patients (Table 2) as being severe (8 ≤ NRS ≤ 10) in 5 (11%), moderate (5 ≤ NRS ≤ 7) in 27 (60%), and mild in 13 (29%). Pain relief was achieved in 41 of 45 patients (91%): complete relief was obtained in 21 (51.2%) and partial relief in 20 patients (48.8%); patients with severe pain experienced resolution and none present-ed an increase of pain. Drugs reduction/suspension was achieved in 7 of the 21 patients with complete response. Of 42 patients evaluable for recalcification (Table 3), 21 (50%) presented a radiological response, which was identified as complete in 16 (38%).

CONCLUSION

Our data confirm the effectiveness of radiotherapy for pain relief, including a reduction in drug intake, and on recalcification, thus, supporting its use in a multidisciplinary approach.