[Diagnosis and therapy of tumor related pain].

The World Health Organization guidelines for cancer pain therapy from 1986 are still valid. A prerequisite for adequate pain palliation is an exact anamnesis and pain diagnosis. A multimodal, staged therapeutic concept then needs to be formulated according to the requirements of the patient. The pharmacological treatment starts with non-opioids. If pain control remains insufficient, weak opioids are added. In case of persistent pain these are replaced by strong opioids. The availability of new opioids and/or preparations admits a more sophisticated approach to metabolic disorders and specific pain syndromes. Depending on the presenting pain type, co-analgesics might be added.