Extracorporeal Irradiation (ECI) - An Overview.

Extracorporeal irradiation (ECI) of the bone is used in the management of malignant bone tumour (MBT). It consists of surgical removal of the tumour-bearing bone segment from the body followed by removal of the tumour and soft tissue from the bone followed by high dose irradiation of the bone and re-implantation of the sterile bone back into the body. Since radiation was given to the bone segment outside the body, the usual radiation side effects do not occur, resulting in better compliance. We are reporting one such case of ECI for the management of malignant bone tumour and also summarising the technique of ECI. Based on our study, ECI provides a viable alternative to amputation, enabling patients to preserve their limbs and maintain a good quality of life. Overall, ECI is a valuable treatment option for orthopaedic and radiation oncologists for managing primary malignant bone tumours with good functional outcomes and short-term survival rates.