Clinical utility of strontium-89 chloride for the palliation of bone pain in metastatic prostate carcinoma

Metastatic bone disease is a major sequela of several malignancies, such as the prostate, breast, lung, kidney and thyroid. Bone pain is a common symptom in advancing malignancy and often determines the quality of life in the later stages of disease. Management of bone pain from metastasis remains palliative at present. With the improved cancer survival resulting from advances in cancer management, the population of patients seeking relief of bone pain has increased. Radiopharmaceutical therapy offers potential pain relief with minimal adverse effects. This is a case report on the clinical utility of strontium-89 chloride for the palliation of bone pain in metastatic prostate cancer. A 67-year-old male presented with bone pain due to disseminated bone metastases form prostate cancer, most intense in the lower back (Visual Analogue Scale pain score of 8). Strontium-89 chloride was administered intravenously at a dose of 148 MBq (4mCi). There was a transient, moderate, tolerable pain flare (Visual Analogue Scale pain score of 4) within the first week of treatment, which was relieved by oral opioid analgesics. He was pain-free thereafter (Visual Analogue Scale pain score of 0). Reversible bone marrow suppression was also observed a few weeks after the treatment.

Hemodynamic Significance of Internal Carotid or Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis Detected on Magnetic Resonance Angiography

PURPOSE: We evaluated hemodynamic significance of stenosis on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using acetazolamide perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 171 patients, stenosis in internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) (ICA-MCA) on MRA and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) of MCA territory on SPECT was measured using quantification and a 3-grade system. Stenosis and CVR grades were compared with each other, and their prognostic value for subsequent stroke was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 342 ICA-MCA, 151 (44%) presented stenosis on MRA; grade 1 in 69 (20%) and grade 2 in 82 (24%) cases. Decreased CVR was observed in 9% of grade 0 stenosis, 25% of grade 1, and 35% of grade 2. The average CVR of grade 0 was significantly different from grade 1 (p<0.001) and grade 2 stenosis (p=0.007). In quantitative analysis, average CVR index was -0.56+/-7.91 in grade 0, -1.81+/-6.66 in grade 1 and -1.18+/-5.88 in grade 2 stenosis. Agreement between stenosis and CVR grades was fair in patients with lateralizing and non-lateralizing symptoms (kappa=0.230 and 0.346). Of the factors tested, both MRA and CVR were not significant prognostic factors (p=0.104 and 0.988, respectively), whereas hypertension and renal disease were significant factors (p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: A considerable proportion of ICA-MCA stenosis detected on MRA does not cause CVR impairment despite a fair correlation between them. Thus, hemodynamic state needs to be assessed for evaluating significance of stenosis, particularly in asymptomatic patients.