Post-mastectomy pain syndrome: incidence and risks

Abstract

Background: Post-mastectomy pain syndrome is defined as a chronic pain that persists beyond the normal healing time of 3 months. It is considered a neuropathic condition that arises after surgery for breast cancer.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of pain syndromes in patients undergoing surgical treatment of breast cancer in the National Cancer Institute.

Methods: This study is a prospective cohort of women undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer from September 2008 to June 2009, followed up until 6 months postoperatively.

Results and conclusions: One hundred seventy-four women were examined. The mean age was 58 years. The incidence of pain syndrome was 52%. Younger women (<40 years) and those who were submitted to axillary lymph node dissection (with more than 15 lymph nodes excised) have shown a significantly increased risk of pain syndrome after surgery for breast cancer (relative risk (RR) =5.23 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-24.64) and (RR=2.01 95% CI: 1.08-3.75).