Single-fraction IMRT Versus External Beam Radiotherapy for Patients With Spine Bone Metastases

This study is a prospective, randomized, monocentre, controlled explorative study in the parallel-group design to determine the pain relief after RT of patients with spinal bone metastases. Thereby two different techniques were evaluated: single fraction IMRT with 1 x 24 Gy versus fractionated RT with 10 x 3 Gy. Prior to their enrolment into the study, the patients will undergo a staging of the vertebral column in connection with their radiation-planning computed tomography (CT) and MRI to measure the myelon dimension. After the baseline results have been recorded, the patients will be randomized into one of the two groups: single-fraction IMRT 1 x 24 Gy (n = 30) or fractionated RT 10 x 3 Gy (n = 30). The target parameters will be measured and recorded at baseline, at the end of RT (t1) and twelve weeks (t2) and six months following the end of the irradiation period (t3).