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Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Frequent Problem Facing Cancer Surgeons

Received: 7 February 2015     Accepted: 13 February 2015     Published: 9 May 2015
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Abstract

Background: Post mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a type of neurogenic pain that persists for a long period after surgery for breast cancer. The present study aims to find out the prevalence of this syndrome and investigate its contributing risk factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 167womenoperated for breast cancer. Patients with either modified radical mastectomy(MRM) or breast conserving therapy (BTC) were enrolled in the study. Detailed medical history with special emphasis on the presence of pain and its characteristics, duration and location were performed to all patients. Full clinical examination was also performed to exclude other possible causes of pain. All expected risk factors were traced and correlated to the patient condition. Reviewing of medical records of all patients was performed to find out operation details, tumor stage and way of management of axillary lymph nodes. Results: Eighty seven (52%) out of the 167 studied women reported PMPS. The mean age was 54 ± 18.3 years. The incidence of PMPS was more evident in younger age group and in women with advanced tumor stage. There is significant decrease in the incidence of PMPS in patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (Chi-2=4.10 & P-value=0.043).Moderate and severe pain were most commonly reported among patients underwent MRM while mild pain was most commonly reported among patients underwent BCT (Chi-2=17.51 & P-value=0.001). Intercostobrachial neuralgia was the most commonly reported type of pain among patients underwent MRM and patients underwent BCT (Chi-2=10.47 & P-value=0.015). Pain occurred more frequently at the shoulder, axilla and arm complex (48.3%). Conclusion: PMPS is an evident problem. Cancer surgeons should clearly identify patients who are at risk aiming to minimize or even eliminate the chance of developing this syndrome.

Published in Journal of Surgery (Volume 3, Issue 2-1)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Postoperative Pain Syndrome

DOI 10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14
Page(s) 18-22
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Breast cancer, mastectomy, pain.

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Emad Hokkam, Aly Saber, Taha Moati, Mostafa El-Dosoki. (2015). Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Frequent Problem Facing Cancer Surgeons. Journal of Surgery, 3(2-1), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14

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    ACS Style

    Emad Hokkam; Aly Saber; Taha Moati; Mostafa El-Dosoki. Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Frequent Problem Facing Cancer Surgeons. J. Surg. 2015, 3(2-1), 18-22. doi: 10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14

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    AMA Style

    Emad Hokkam, Aly Saber, Taha Moati, Mostafa El-Dosoki. Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Frequent Problem Facing Cancer Surgeons. J Surg. 2015;3(2-1):18-22. doi: 10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14,
      author = {Emad Hokkam and Aly Saber and Taha Moati and Mostafa El-Dosoki},
      title = {Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Frequent Problem Facing Cancer Surgeons},
      journal = {Journal of Surgery},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2-1},
      pages = {18-22},
      doi = {10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.js.s.2015030201.14},
      abstract = {Background: Post mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a type of neurogenic pain that persists for a long period after surgery for breast cancer. The present study aims to find out the prevalence of this syndrome and investigate its contributing risk factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 167womenoperated for breast cancer. Patients with either modified radical mastectomy(MRM) or breast conserving therapy (BTC) were enrolled in the study. Detailed medical history with special emphasis on the presence of pain and its characteristics, duration and location were performed to all patients. Full clinical examination was also performed to exclude other possible causes of pain. All expected risk factors were traced and correlated to the patient condition. Reviewing of medical records of all patients was performed to find out operation details, tumor stage and way of management of axillary lymph nodes. Results: Eighty seven (52%) out of the 167 studied women reported PMPS. The mean age was 54 ± 18.3 years. The incidence of PMPS was more evident in younger age group and in women with advanced tumor stage. There is significant decrease in the incidence of PMPS in patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (Chi-2=4.10 & P-value=0.043).Moderate and severe pain were most commonly reported among patients underwent MRM while mild pain was most commonly reported among patients underwent BCT (Chi-2=17.51 & P-value=0.001). Intercostobrachial neuralgia was the most commonly reported type of pain among patients underwent MRM and patients underwent BCT (Chi-2=10.47 & P-value=0.015). Pain occurred more frequently at the shoulder, axilla and arm complex (48.3%). Conclusion: PMPS is an evident problem. Cancer surgeons should clearly identify patients who are at risk aiming to minimize or even eliminate the chance of developing this syndrome.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Frequent Problem Facing Cancer Surgeons
    AU  - Emad Hokkam
    AU  - Aly Saber
    AU  - Taha Moati
    AU  - Mostafa El-Dosoki
    Y1  - 2015/05/09
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14
    T2  - Journal of Surgery
    JF  - Journal of Surgery
    JO  - Journal of Surgery
    SP  - 18
    EP  - 22
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-0930
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.s.2015030201.14
    AB  - Background: Post mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a type of neurogenic pain that persists for a long period after surgery for breast cancer. The present study aims to find out the prevalence of this syndrome and investigate its contributing risk factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 167womenoperated for breast cancer. Patients with either modified radical mastectomy(MRM) or breast conserving therapy (BTC) were enrolled in the study. Detailed medical history with special emphasis on the presence of pain and its characteristics, duration and location were performed to all patients. Full clinical examination was also performed to exclude other possible causes of pain. All expected risk factors were traced and correlated to the patient condition. Reviewing of medical records of all patients was performed to find out operation details, tumor stage and way of management of axillary lymph nodes. Results: Eighty seven (52%) out of the 167 studied women reported PMPS. The mean age was 54 ± 18.3 years. The incidence of PMPS was more evident in younger age group and in women with advanced tumor stage. There is significant decrease in the incidence of PMPS in patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (Chi-2=4.10 & P-value=0.043).Moderate and severe pain were most commonly reported among patients underwent MRM while mild pain was most commonly reported among patients underwent BCT (Chi-2=17.51 & P-value=0.001). Intercostobrachial neuralgia was the most commonly reported type of pain among patients underwent MRM and patients underwent BCT (Chi-2=10.47 & P-value=0.015). Pain occurred more frequently at the shoulder, axilla and arm complex (48.3%). Conclusion: PMPS is an evident problem. Cancer surgeons should clearly identify patients who are at risk aiming to minimize or even eliminate the chance of developing this syndrome.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2-1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

  • Department of Surgery, Port-Fouad General Hospital, Port-Fouad, Egypt

  • Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

  • Department of Surgery, Port-Fouad General Hospital, Port-Fouad, Egypt

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