Nuclear analgesic therapy for skeletal metastases

Palliative analgesic therapy for skeletal metastases using radionuclides involves intravenous administration of radioactive drugs (Sr-89 chloride, Sm-153-EDTMP) in solutions.

These radioactive drugs are indicated for the treatment of bone pain caused by multilocular metastases that demonstrate increased radionuclide accumulation on bone scintigraphy. Therefore, before prescribing treatment, osteoscintigraphy is necessary. Equally important is monitoring blood counts to assess bone marrow function, as well as visualizing some metastases using computed tomography to exclude their connection or proximity to structures of the nervous system (eg, spinal cord).

Palliative radionuclide therapy is recommended when pain symptoms associated with bone metastases seriously affect the patient's quality of life and/or the use of opioid medications is required to relieve symptoms.

A significant reduction in pain symptoms occurs in approximately 70% cases, but complete relief from pain is quite rare.