Clinical oncology : a journal of the Royal College of Radiologists
-
Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) · Apr 2015
Factors affecting the use of single-fraction radiotherapy for the palliation of bone metastases in Australia.
Palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases remains an important treatment in patients with metastatic malignancy. Previous studies have indicated a reluctance to adopt single-fraction treatment despite considerable evidence. This study aims to describe the factors determining the use of palliative radiotherapy in patients with bone metastases and assess whether fractionation patterns have changed over time with emerging evidence. ⋯ The rate of single-fraction radiotherapy for bone metastases has remained low in two large Australian institutions, despite considerable evidence that single-fraction treatment provides equivalent pain relief to fractionated therapy. This trend towards fractionated treatment was largely maintained, even in patients with limited life expectancy. Further measures to increase the rate of single-fraction therapy are needed.