Persistent and Chronic Perioperative Pain After Cancer Surgery

Abstract

Persistent and chronic pain after cancer surgery is a complex clinical problem. The etiology of pain in these cases is often multifactorial and, in addition to the surgery itself, can include or overlap with other painful syndromes such as direct effects of tumors, neuropathic pain, and pain syndromes secondary to chemotherapy and/or radiation. There is a growing body of literature which suggests that treating pain in the acute and subacute periods can prevent chronic pain, an important step in reducing the morbidity of this clinical problem. This review describes the incidence of persistent pain after cancer surgery, its pathophysiology, and treatment considerations. Additional research on diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and novel medications, restorative therapies, and interventional treatments will be essential to continue to reduce the clinical burden of persistent and chronic perioperative pain after cancer surgery.