External Beam Radiotherapy for Palliation of Pain from Metastatic Carcinoma of the Prostate

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Abstract
Radiotherapy often is used for palliation of bone pain from metastatic cancer of the prostate, but an objective evaluation of its efficacy in a large series of patients is unavailable. The results of external beam irradiation in 62 patients who had bone pain secondary to stage D carcinoma of the prostate are reported. The variables used to judge pain before and after radiotherapy included subjective evaluation of pain, status of activity and quantitation of analgesic use. Complete relief of pain was achieved in 26 patients (42%), partial relief in 22 (35%) and no relief in 14 (23%). External beam irradiation evidently is useful palliative therapy for pain from metastatic cancer of the prostate.