The use of radioisotopes for palliation of metastatic bone pain
Gkialas, I.; Iordanidou, L.; Galanakis, I.; Giannopoulos, S.
Journal of BUON Official Journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology 13(2): 177-183
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1107-0625 PMID: 18555462 Document Number: 617111
Bone pain associated with advanced prostate and other cancers is a frequent and significant complication. Pharmaceutical therapy of bone pain includes nonsteroidal analgesics and opiates. While external beam radiation therapy remains the mainstay of pain palliation of solitary lesions, bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals have entered the armamentarium for the treatment of multiple osseous metastases. The 3 radioisotopes currently approved for treatment of pain (strontium-89/(89)Sr, samarium-153/(153)Sm and rhenium-186/(186)Re) are discussed in this review including the approved dose, method of administration and indications for use.