Katarzyna Hojan1, Magdalena Wojtysiak2, Juliusz Huber2, Marta Molińska-Glura3, Agnieszka Wiertel-Krawczuk2, Piotr Milecki4. 1. Department of Rehabilitation, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: khojan@op.pl. 2. Department of Pathophysiology of Locomotor Organs, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Science, 28 Czerwca 1956 St. No 135/147, 61-545 Poznan, Poland. 3. Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 79 Dąbrowskiego St., 60-529, Poznan, Poland. 4. Chair and Department of Electroradiology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866, Poznan, Poland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy (RT) are potential causes of persistent pain syndrome. It remains to be clarified whether numbness or pain reported by patients after mastectomy and RT are conditioned by changes in nerve transmission. The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between subjective sensory complications and neurophysiological examinations in breast cancer survivors with post-mastectomy pain syndrome. METHODS: Sixty breast cancer survivors (30 patients only after mastectomy - group A; and 30 after mastectomy with RT - group B) complaining of pain and sensory disturbances in the brachial plexus area and 20 healthy women (group C) were studied with regard to sensory perception and pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale and electroneurography (ENG). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the amplitudes in SCV recordings following stimulation of the ulnar (p = 0.04) and lateral cutaneous antebrachii nerves (p = 0.02) in group B in comparison to group C. Additionally, a significant decrease in the amplitude and conduction velocity parameters was detected in the sensory fibers of the median and medial cutaneous antebrachii nerves in group A (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively) in comparison to group C. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study suggest persistent post-mastectomy pain syndrome sometimes appears as a result of nerve injury in course of breast cancer surgery and RT. Therefore studies in nerve conduction may be added to the comprehensive patient assessment used in planning breast cancer patients' rehabilitation after oncological treatment has finished.
PURPOSE:Breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy (RT) are potential causes of persistent pain syndrome. It remains to be clarified whether numbness or pain reported by patients after mastectomy and RT are conditioned by changes in nerve transmission. The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between subjective sensory complications and neurophysiological examinations in breast cancer survivors with post-mastectomy pain syndrome. METHODS: Sixty breast cancer survivors (30 patients only after mastectomy - group A; and 30 after mastectomy with RT - group B) complaining of pain and sensory disturbances in the brachial plexus area and 20 healthy women (group C) were studied with regard to sensory perception and pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale and electroneurography (ENG). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the amplitudes in SCV recordings following stimulation of the ulnar (p = 0.04) and lateral cutaneous antebrachii nerves (p = 0.02) in group B in comparison to group C. Additionally, a significant decrease in the amplitude and conduction velocity parameters was detected in the sensory fibers of the median and medial cutaneous antebrachii nerves in group A (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively) in comparison to group C. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study suggest persistent post-mastectomy pain syndrome sometimes appears as a result of nerve injury in course of breast cancer surgery and RT. Therefore studies in nerve conduction may be added to the comprehensive patient assessment used in planning breast cancerpatients' rehabilitation after oncological treatment has finished.
Authors: Bruna Baungarten Hugen Back; Kamilla Zomkowski; Mariana Dos Santos Hermes; Natália de Souza Cunha; Anke Bergmann; Fabiana Flores Sperandio Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-01-07 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: S La Cesa; P Sammartino; C Mollica; G Cascialli; G Cruccu; A Truini; M Framarino-Dei-Malatesta Journal: Neurol Sci Date: 2018-04-29 Impact factor: 3.307