ABSTRACT
Indications for radiotherapy Emergency radiotherapy, which should be given within 24 h of diagnosis, is only indicated for selected patients with spinal cord compression. Urgent palliative radiotherapy, used to treat various other symptoms from primary disease or metastases, should be given as soon as possible. The set-up and planning are kept as simple as possible for palliative treatments, but they have to be individualised for each patient. Palliation requires as much skill as radical treatment. Accurate definition of the tumour causing the symptom is important and side effects of treatment must be minimised to ensure overall benefit to the patient.
