Palliation of painful bone metastases: Strontium-89.

Most patients with bony metastases experience painful symptoms. Strontium-89 isotope therapy is an alternative to traditional hemibody radiation in cases of multiple, diffuse metastases. Generally given as a single i.v. slow-push infusion, relief begins in one to three weeks, peaks at six weeks, and has a mean duration of 12 months. Up to 22 percent of patients are pain-free at three months.