Pain relief effect of multiple alternating sequential half body irradiation [MASHBI] for multiple osseous metastases

ABSTRACT

Fifteen patients suffering from widespread osseous metastases presented from the period June, 1990 to May, 1991. All patients were treated by alternating exposures for their body halves to irradiation. The dose chosen for upper half body was 300 cGy for 5 times and 400 cGy for lower half body for 5 times. Twelve patients [80.0%] showed some degree of pain relief after first exposure and continued the whole treatment schedule. Ten patients [83.3%] had complete pain relief in both body halves. All patients with pretreatment mild or moderate pain had complete relief [7/7], while 60% [3/5] of those with severe pain achieved such complete pain relief. The mean follow up period in this study was 15 months ranged between 12 to 18 months. All cases during this follow up period maintained their response with no single case of pain reactivation. Although higher dose of irradiation to both body halves was given in this study, yet post radiation side effects were comparable with that reported with single dose S.H.B.I. 660-1000 cGy. The Multiple Alternating Sequential Half Body Irradiation [MASHBI] seems to be an efficient treatment than single dose technique SHBI and a prospective randomized study is recommended