Antalgic treatment of pain associated with bone metastases

Pain from metastases of primitive cancer is the first symptom of disease in 15--20% of patients and remains the most common cause of cancer-related pain. 30--70% of patients have metastases at diagnosis, and 80% of them at the moment of death. Functional impairment of skeleton, neurologic symptoms, pathological fractures and pain are the most important indications for palliative treatment which should result in tumor regression, relief in cancer-related symptoms and maintainance of functional integrity. Bone metastases are treated with the systemic therapies including radiotherapy, hormonal manipulation, biphosphonates, calcitonin, surgical treatment, and chemotherapy. Conventional use of opioids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not always produce satisfactory analgesic result in treated patients because of incidental and intermittent nature of pain and unacceptable side effects. Alternative strategies (peripheric and central nerve blocks, neurolysis) are frequently required. A proper use of different modalities of treatment enhances the probability of achieving relief of pain and maintaining an acceptable quality of life.