Postoperative radiation therapy for multiple myeloma of long bones: Should the entire rod be treated?

We examined the impact of reduced dose and limited field radiation therapy, encompassing only the disease seen on imaging, on local control. Reduced dose radiation therapy achieves excellent local control. However, limited radiation fields that do not encompass the entire surgical hardware carry a risk of recurrence along the hardware. Due to the systemic nature of the disease that involves the whole marrow, covering all the surgical hardware, particularly in weight bearing bones, is warranted to maintain the hardware stability in the event of the future development of other lesions along the length of the hardware.
Source: Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: Original Study Source Type: research