[The importance of radiotherapy in backache].

Painful changes of the vertebral column frequently can be treated by radiation therapy, although fundamental differences have to be made between benign or primary and secondary malignant diseases. As efficacy is totally different for benign and malignant diseases, the dosage radiation is many times lower or higher respectively. For both ranges of application but especially for the treatment of benign diseases a critical profit-risk analysis with careful consideration of alternative therapy should find out the distinct indication.