MRgHIFU treatment in pain palliation of bone metastases: initial experience from the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute

Background The increasing longevity of the population coupled with the progress of treatments for primary tumors is enhancing the incidence and the burden of distant metastases such as bone metastases. Bone metastases are the most common cause of cancer-related pain. Quality of life may be significantly impaired as a consequence of painful bone metastases. The treatment of secondary bone lesions will become even more important in the near future. The development of strategies to improve quality of life in patients with bone metastases is fundamental and represents a major clinical challenge. This issue is of huge impact on today health care and economy.