[Multiple myeloma of the bones. Treatment by 2-stage whole-body irradiation. 7 cases]

Seven patients with high tumoral burden myeloma of bones were treated by two successive hemicorporeal irradiations. This treatment was strikingly effective in providing pain relief which was durable in 3 cases. It might also have reduced the tumoral mass, since partial remission was obtained in 2 cases and lasting normalization of calcaemia in one patient with a non-excreting myeloma. Its haematological side-effects did not seem to exceed those of combined chemotherapy, and its pulmonary toxicity was reduced by using corrected doses.