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Review
. 2023 Oct 20;15(10):e47384.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.47384. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Narrative Review

Sajad Ahmad Salati  1 , Lamees Alsulaim  2 , Mariyyah H Alharbi  3 , Norah H Alharbi  3 , Thana M Alsenaid  3 , Shoug A Alaodah  3 , Abdulsalam S Alsuhaibani  3 , Khalid A Albaqami  3
Affiliations
Review

Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Narrative Review

Sajad Ahmad Salati et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Postmastectomy pain syndrome is a very common disorder in breast cancer survivors. The impact on the quality of patients' lives is significantly adverse. The precise pathophysiology has not been determined as yet though various risk factors have been identified that make the patient vulnerable. Required preoperative work includes the identification and possible elimination of risk factors. Treatment is multidisciplinary involving surgical and non-surgical modalities. There is a great scope of research in this field.

Keywords: antidepressants; gabapentinoids; intercostobrachial nerve; mastectomy; neuroma; neuromodulation; neuropathy; postmastectomy pain syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flowchart showing the selection process.
Image credit: Sajad Ahmad Salati (Author)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Common characteristics of persistent postmastectomy syndrome (PMPS).
Image Credit: Sajad Ahmad Salati (Author)
Figure 3
Figure 3. An algorithmic, multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients with PMPS.
Image Source: Beederman and Bank, 2021 [8]; Open Access, Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND) PMPS: postmastectomy pain syndrome
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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