Object: Patients with osteolytic metastases frequently suffer from serious local and radicular pain. Pathophysiologically, local pain arises from skeletal instability, whereas radicular pain originates from compression of nerve roots by local tumor growth. Causal treatment of osteolytic metastases in disseminated malignant disease is very difficult. Resection of vertebrae, in combination with ventro-dorsal stabilization, is a complex treatment for patients with a limited life expectancy. Percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) vertebroplasty is a new and easy method of relieving patients' pain. In addition, it is both cost effective and safe. Pain is reduced immediately after treatment. Due to the regained vertebral stability, early mobilization of the patients is possible
