The Role of Radiation Therapy for Palliation of Hematologic Malignancies

Palliative RT is an effective tool in management and treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies. Even relatively low doses of palliative RT can quickly and effectively relieve pain and other symptoms impairing quality of life and function. As so many diseases are represented by the umbrella term, “hematologic malignancies,” and each disease has its own natural history and prognosis, the indications for palliative RT are heterogeneous. The following review provides a discussion of when palliative RT should be considered, as well as data-supported dose/fractionation schemes, for non-cutaneous lymphomas and leukemias. It also offers a suggested approach to the patient with a hematologic malignancy requiring palliative RT.