Article

Palliative radiotherapy: when is it worth it and when is it not?

Department of Radiation Oncology, Blanchard Valley Regional Cancer Center, Findlay, OH, USA.
The Cancer Journal (impact factor: 3.26). 08/2010; 16(5):473-82. DOI:10.1097/PPO.0b013e3181f28b4d
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Palliative radiotherapy has been prescribed since shortly after the discovery of the x-ray in the late 1800s, and it provides symptom relief that is successful, time-efficient, and cost-effective. Although palliative radiotherapy is worthwhile in a wide variety of clinical circumstances, there are situations where it is less worthwhile. We contrast the effective use of palliative radiotherapy with its ineffective use because of issues related to the patient, treatment, or health care system.

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Keywords

cost-effective
 
effective use
 
health care system
 
ineffective use
 
palliative radiotherapy
 
successful
 
symptom relief
 
wide variety
 

Stephen Lutz