[Intrathecal phenol block in a child with cancer pain--a case report]

We present a case of a terminally ill child with cancer pain which was treated with intrathecal phenol block. A 13-year-old boy felt severe pain in the right buttock and leg due to osteosarcoma. Despite treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intravenous injection of morphine, continuous infusion of ketamine or continuous lumbar epidural block, his pain increased progressively. Therefore, we performed intrathecal block with 10% phenol glycerine 0.2 ml. After the block, his pain was markedly relieved. He sometimes came back home and joined school events. He did not complain of the pain until his death. We suggest that intrathecal phenol block should be performed in terminally ill children with cancer pain if they do not respond to the usual therapeutic modalities including administration of morphine and continuous epidural block.