[Chronic post-mastectomy pain]

Abstract

Background: Surgery results in chronic pain in 7-80 percent. One of the most studied is chronic post-mastectomy pain. The prevalence was 40-50 percent in studies performed abroad. As this problem has not yet been studied in the Czech Republic, a retrospective prevalence study was performed to asses the extent of the problem and risk factors for development of chronic post-mastectomy pain.

Methods and results: After ethic committee approval an anonymous questionnaire was developed and distributed in various oncology department and patients'organisations. Response rate was 100 percent, 330 questionnaires were processed. Chronic post-mastectomy pain (lasting longer than 3 months after surgery) was described by 69 (20.9 per cent) women. The pain was permanent in 17 and transient in 46 cases, not specified in 6 cases. The pain intensity was predominantly mild or moderate. Risk factors were younger age (below 55-60 years, p=0.0098), less extensive surgery (tumourectomy vs. mastectomy, p=0.0017), intensive post operative pain (p=0.0002) and radiotherapy (p=0.0174). Trend in chemotherapy (p=0.0778) was observed.

Conclusions: The prevalence of chronic post-mastectomy pain was lower in our study comparing to studies in other countries. The reason remains obscure in spite of detailed analysis.