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
Review
. 2023 Oct;25(10):1175-1179.
doi: 10.1007/s11912-023-01435-z. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Interventional Treatment Options for Post-mastectomy Pain

Aarthi Murugappan  1 , Ashish Khanna  2
Affiliations
Review

Interventional Treatment Options for Post-mastectomy Pain

Aarthi Murugappan et al. Curr Oncol Rep. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent cancer diagnosed globally, and there is a significant gap in the availability of effective first-line treatment options. In addition to a cancer diagnosis, breast cancer patients face additional pain and morbidity after treatment. Radiation fibrosis, muscle spasms, muscle pain, neuropathy, and limited shoulder function are all potential side effects of breast cancer treatment and breast reconstruction. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome affects 25-60% of people after breast surgery. The current review moves forward to explain interventional pain management options that can be used to supplement conservative measures (physical therapy, medication, topical ointments) to help these patients.

Recent findings: There are many new interventional procedures to treat chest wall pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity after breast surgery. Currently, the most commonly performed procedures are botulinum toxin injections, serratus anterior plane blocks, intercostobrachial nerve blocks, thoracic paravertebral nerve blocks, pectoralis nerve blocks, and erector spinae nerve blocks. Utilizing one of these interventional procedures, along with physical therapy and pharmacologic interventions, can help manage post-mastectomy pain syndrome in the millions of breast cancer patients diagnosed and treated every year.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast reconstruction; Chest wall pain; Interventional oncology; Nerve blocks; Post-mastectomy pain.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
    1. Fahad UM. Breast cancer: current perspectives on the disease status. Breast Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance: Challenges and Progress 2019:51–64.
    1. Tan PY, Anand SP, Chan DXH. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome: a timely review of its predisposing factors and current approaches to treatment. Proc Singap Healthc. 2022;31:20101058211006420. This study presents an overview of the leading causes of post-mastecomy pain and viable treatment options. - DOI
    1. Wijayasinghe N, Duriaud HM, Kehlet H, Anderson KG. Ultrasound guided intercostobrachial nerve blockade in patients with persistent pain after breast cancer surgery: a pilot study. Pain Physician. 2016;19(2):E309. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kokosis G, Chopra K, Darrach H, Dellon AL, Williams EH. Re-visiting post-breast surgery pain syndrome: risk factors, peripheral nerve associations and clinical implications. Gland Surgery. 2019;8(4):407.
    1. Khanna A. Role of interventional pain management in breast cancer. In: Breast cancer and gynecologic cancer rehabilitation. Elsevier; 2021. p. 141–8. This study entails important causes and recommended interventional procedures for post-mastectomy pain.

LinkOut - more resources