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Review
. 2022 Feb;24(2):215-222.
doi: 10.1007/s11912-021-01152-5. Epub 2022 Jan 21.

Persistent and Chronic Perioperative Pain After Cancer Surgery

Behnum Ali Habibi  1 , Chong Kim  2 , Hesham Elsharkawy  3
Affiliations
Review

Persistent and Chronic Perioperative Pain After Cancer Surgery

Behnum Ali Habibi et al. Curr Oncol Rep. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Persistent and chronic pain after cancer surgery is a complex clinical problem. The etiology of pain in these cases is often multifactorial and, in addition to the surgery itself, can include or overlap with other painful syndromes such as direct effects of tumors, neuropathic pain, and pain syndromes secondary to chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Recent findings: There is a growing body of literature which suggests that treating pain in the acute and subacute periods can prevent chronic pain, an important step in reducing the morbidity of this clinical problem. This review describes the incidence of persistent pain after cancer surgery, its pathophysiology, and treatment considerations. Additional research on diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and novel medications, restorative therapies, and interventional treatments will be essential to continue to reduce the clinical burden of persistent and chronic perioperative pain after cancer surgery.

Keywords: Cancer pain; Central sensitization; Chronic cancer pain; Chronic pain; Edmonton staging system; Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee; National pain strategy; Perioperative pain; Subacute pain.

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References

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