Clinical manifestations and radiosensitivity of skeletal metastases in case of renal carcinomas

Among 130 patients with disseminated renal cell carconimas 29 cases with skeletal involvement have been analyzed. Skeletal metastasis is associated with oligotopic and frequently extraosseous growth of large metastases. Extraosseous growth was noted in 85% of the cases. This phenomenon was less frequent in cases with combined metastatic involvement of bone and visceral organs. Skeletal metastases were shown to be fairly resistant to radiation therapy in terms of objective remission although symptomatic pain relief could usually be achieved. Interestingly, in cases with osseous involvement only the survival was significantly longer compared to visceral and mixed forms of metastatic disease. Radiotherapeutic consequences resulting from this biological behaviour of osseous metastases are discussed. (orig.)