Palliation of multiple bone metastases from prostatic carcinoma with strontium-89

The efficacy of strontium-89 in relieving pain caused by disseminated bone metastases was studied in 11 patients with prostatic carcinoma. The therapy consisted either of 3 i.v. injections of 100 MBq strontium-89 chloride in intervals of 4 weeks in 8 patients or 200 MBq i.v. administered on one occasion in 3 patients. The study suggests that 1-3 i.v. injections of 100 MBq strontium-89 may be a worthwhile and fairly atoxic treatment for palliation of bone pain from metastatic prostatic carcinoma.