Pain management for persistent pain post radiotherapy in head and neck cancers: systematic review

Young, J; Rattan, D; Cheung, A; Lazarakis, S; McGilvray, S

Author(s): Young, J; Rattan, D; Cheung, A; Lazarakis, S; McGilvray, S;
Details: Publication Year 2024-01-01,Volume 24,Issue #1,Page 20230069
Journal Title: Scandinavian Journal of Pain
Publication Type: Review
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the existing literature for evidence of efficacy around interventions in the management of persistent pain post radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of interventions for the management of persistent post-radiotherapy pain in head and neck cancers. The primary outcome evaluated whether an intervention resulted in a reduction in pain which was determined using validated pain tools. RESULTS: Two randomised controlled trials involving 196 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria, one evaluating the effect of hypnotherapy and the other evaluating the effect of pregabalin on radiotherapy related pain in head and neck cancer patients. In one study by Thuma et al. (2016) there was a decrease in pain scores in the hypnotherapy group (p<0.001). In the other study, by Jiang et al. (2018) patients treated with pregabalin had a greater reduction in pain intensity, pain severity and a reduction in pain functional interference (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our review suggest that in chronic post-radiotherapy pain for head and neck cancers there is very-low level evidence for the use of hypnotherapy in reducing pain scores and for the use of pregabalin in reducing pain intensity, severity, functional interference and psychological distress with significant improvement in quality of life.
Publisher: De Gruyter
Keywords: Humans; Pain Management; Pregabalin/therapeutic use; Quality of Life; *Head and Neck Neoplasms/radiotherapy; *Chronic Pain/drug therapy/etiology; cancer pain; chronic mucositis; head and neck cancer; radiotherapy orofacial pain
Department(s): Surgical Oncology
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjpain-2023-0069
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjpain-2023-0069
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2024-02-22 12:10:34

Last Modified: 2024-02-22 12:19:10