Image-guided and Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Versus External Beam Radiotherapy for Patients With Spine Metastases

The aim of this explorative trial is to verify the comparability of a fractionated intensity modulated radiotherapy with a conventional radiotherapy related to quality of life on the one hand and to evaluate toxicity, re-calcification and stability of vertebral body as well as pain relief and local response for palliative patients with painful spinal bone metastases on the other hand. This is a single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial with parallel-group design to determine the quality of life after RT in patients with spinal bone metastases. Two different techniques were evaluated: intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and fractionated conventional external beam RT with 10×3 Gy each. Experimental intervention: IMRT 10 x 3 Gy Control intervention: 3D-RT 10 x 3 Gy