Review

. 2024 Apr 12;32(5):285.

doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08467-6.

The use of interventional procedures for cancer pain. A brief review

Yi-Ching Lee^{1

2

3

4}, Timothy Brake^{5

6}, Emma Zhao^{5

7

8}, Alix Dumitrescu^{5

6

9}, Wei Lee^{10

11

12}, Benjamin Tassie⁵, Kok-Eng Khor¹³, Andy Yi-Yang Wang^{14

15

16}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 4, QEII, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
² Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Service, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
³ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
⁴ Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
⁵ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 4, QEII, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
⁶ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Service, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁸ Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁹ Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁰ Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ HammondCare, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹² Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, Australia.
¹³ Pain Management Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁴ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 4, QEII, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia. Andy.Wang@health.nsw.gov.au.
¹⁵ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Service, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Andy.Wang@health.nsw.gov.au.
¹⁶ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Andy.Wang@health.nsw.gov.au.

PMID: 38607568
PMCID: PMC11009760
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08467-6

Review

The use of interventional procedures for cancer pain. A brief review

Yi-Ching Lee et al. Support Care Cancer. 2024.

. 2024 Apr 12;32(5):285.

doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08467-6.

Authors

Yi-Ching Lee^{1

2

3

4}, Timothy Brake^{5

6}, Emma Zhao^{5

7

8}, Alix Dumitrescu^{5

6

9}, Wei Lee^{10

11

12}, Benjamin Tassie⁵, Kok-Eng Khor¹³, Andy Yi-Yang Wang^{14

15

16}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 4, QEII, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
² Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Service, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
³ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
⁴ Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. YiChing.Lee@health.nsw.gov.au.
⁵ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 4, QEII, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
⁶ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Service, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁸ Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁹ Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁰ Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ HammondCare, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹² Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, Australia.
¹³ Pain Management Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁴ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 4, QEII, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia. Andy.Wang@health.nsw.gov.au.
¹⁵ Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Service, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Andy.Wang@health.nsw.gov.au.
¹⁶ School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Andy.Wang@health.nsw.gov.au.

PMID: 38607568
PMCID: PMC11009760
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08467-6

Abstract

Context: Pain is a common experience in people living with cancer. Concerns around opioid prescribing have seen a move toward a multi-modality management approach, which includes interventional pain procedures.

Purpose: In this paper we discuss the interventional pain procedures used to treat cancer pain at two major tertiary centers in Australia.

Methods and results: This expert review provides practical insights on cancer pain management from healthcare providers in different specialties. These insights can be used to guide the management of a wide range of cancer pain types.

Conclusions: Furthermore, this review identifies the need for a systematic and comprehensive approach to the management of cancer pain that is broader than that of a single specialty. With recent advances in pain management procedures, an interdisciplinary approach is essential in order to provide an up to date, patient tailored approach to pain management. This review will help inform the development of a cancer pain intervention registry.

Keywords: Cancer-related pain; Cordotomy; Neuraxial analgesia; Pain management; Peripheral nerve blocks; Sympathetic blocks.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
A representation of Vargas-Schaffer adaptation of the WHO analgesic ladder

**Fig. 2**
The planning CT scan provides 3-D visualization before needle placement in a patient with advanced pancreatic cancer

**Fig. 3**
Real-time visualization of both needles as they are advanced in a patient with advanced pancreatic cancer. A aorta

**Fig. 4**
Images from splanchnic nerve block with fluoroscopy/Xray guidance

**Fig. 5**
Percutaneous cordotomy procedure for treatment of right hip and leg pain caused by metastatic NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) in the pelvic region. A A needle with pulse generator is placed over left neck region for real-time sensory testing to precisely localise the area of pain with CT image guidance. B Radiofrequency device providing thermal lesioning of the spinothalamic fibers. C CT image inside theatre guiding needle placement through C1/2 vertebral space into targeted spinal cord

See this image and copyright information in PMC

Cited by

The Missing Link: Integrating Interventional Pain Management in the Era of Multimodal Oncology.
Corriero A, Giglio M, Soloperto R, Preziosa A, Stefanelli C, Castaldo M, Gloria F, Paladini A, Guardamagna VA, Puntillo F. Corriero A, et al. Pain Ther. 2025 Aug;14(4):1223-1246. doi: 10.1007/s40122-025-00755-1. Epub 2025 Jun 17. Pain Ther. 2025. PMID: 40528141 Free PMC article. Review.

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The use of interventional procedures for cancer pain. A brief review

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The use of interventional procedures for cancer pain. A brief review

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