A randomized trial of a single treatment versus conventional fractionation in the palliative radiotherapy of painful bone metastases.

In a randomized prospective trial of radiotherapy in 29 patients. Comparing 24 Gy in six fractions is two to three weeks with a single treatment of 8 Gy in the palliative treatment of bone metastasis no differences could be detected in daily subjective pain scores for one month or monthly objective scores for six months. Of the single treatment group 25% required retreatment. Daily subjective record of nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, skin reaction and lethargy for one month showed no difference between the two groups. Palliative radiotherapy for metastatic bone pain using a single treatment is recommended.