Persistent pain after mastectomy

Persistent pain after mastectomy - Part I

4 types of chronic neuropathic pain following breast cancer surgery due to surgical trauma:

Jung BF et al. - Neuropathic pain following breast cancer surgery: proposed classification and research update. Pain 2003;104:1-13

1-Intercostobrachial neuralgia ++: post mastectomy pain syndrome consists of pain and sensory changes localized to the distribustion of the ICBN - the axilla, medial upper arm, and/or the anterior chest wall on the ipsilateral side of the surgery. Fabro et al. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome: Incidence and risks. The Breast 2012, 321-325 .

2-Pain secondary to the presence of a neuroma: Neuroma is formed from masses of tangled axons formed at the end of severed peripheral nerves trapped in scar tissue.

3-Phantom breast pain: sensory experience of a removed breast that is still present and is painful

4-Other nerve injury pain: may result from damage or traction to the medial and lateral pectoral, long thoracic (pain at rest in the shoulder - winging scapula), or thoracodorsal nerves.

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