Relationship between morphine and radiotherapy for management of symptomatic bone metastases from lung cancer

To determine whether radiotherapy is effective for reducing morphine dose in patients with bone metastasis from lung cancer, a retrospective study was undertaken of 58 patients who had undergone palliative radiotherapy. Mean dose of radiotherapy was 20.26 (range 8-60) Gy. Daily morphine dose after start of radiotherapy was significantly greater than before radiotherapy, and dose of morphine did not significantly decrease. Radiotherapy appears ineffective for reducing morphine dose in patients with bone metastasis from lung cancer.