Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Jul 5:5:322-31.
doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2014.06.014. eCollection 2014.

Pain in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies

D Seixas  1 , P Foley  2 , J Palace  3 , D Lima  4 , I Ramos  5 , I Tracey  6
Affiliations

Pain in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies

D Seixas et al. Neuroimage Clin. .

Abstract

Introduction: While pain in multiple sclerosis (MS) is common, in many cases the precise mechanisms are unclear. Neuroimaging studies could have a valuable role in investigating the aetiology of pain syndromes. The aim of this review was to synthesise and appraise the current literature on neuroimaging studies of pain syndromes in MS.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and Scopus from their inception dates to the 2nd of April 2013. Studies were selected by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality was appraised. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted.

Results: We identified 38 studies of variable methodology and quality. All studies but one used conventional structural magnetic resonance imaging, and the majority reported a positive association between location of demyelinating lesions and specific neuropathic pain syndromes. Most investigated headache and facial pain, with more common pain syndromes such as limb pain being relatively understudied. We identified a number of methodological concerns, which along with variable study design and reporting limit our ability to synthesise data. Higher quality studies were however less likely to report positive associations of lesion distribution to pain syndromes.

Conclusions: Further high quality hypothesis-driven neuroimaging studies of pain syndromes in MS are required to clarify pain mechanisms, particularly for the commonest pain syndromes.

Keywords: Headache; Magnetic resonance imaging; Multiple sclerosis; Pain; Review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the review procedure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Alstadhaug K., Breivik K., Rusic Z. Recurrent headache due to MS plaque. Headache. 2008;48:453–454. 18081822 - PubMed
    1. Andrade C., Massano J., Guimarães J., Garrett M.C. Stretching the limbs? Tonic spasms in multiple sclerosis. BMJ Case Reports. 2012;30 23208828 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Athanasiou T.C., Patel N.K., Renowden S.A., Coakham H.B. Some patients with multiple sclerosis have neurovascular compression causing their trigeminal neuralgia and can be treated effectively with MVD: report of five cases. British Journal of Neurosurgery. 2005;19:463–468. 16574557 - PubMed
    1. Bakshi R., Thompson A.J., Rocca M.A., Pelletier D., Dousset V., Barkhof F., Inglese M., Guttmann C.R., Horsfield M.A., Filippi M. MRI in multiple sclerosis: current status and future prospects. Lancet Neurology. 2008;7:615–625. 18565455 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Balasa R., Bajko Z. Trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis patients: a clinical comparison of trigeminal neuralgia in patients with and without underlying multiple sclerosis. Romanian Journal of Neurology. 2010;9:68–73.

Publication types