Neuropathic pain features in patients with bone metastases referred for palliative radiotherapy

To estimate the prevalence of pain with neuropathic features among patients with metastatic bone pain and to assess differences between patients with and without neuropathic features by pain severity, functional interference, and quality-of-life (QOL) measures.

A prospective cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients with symptomatic bone metastases was conducted between December 2006 and March 2008 at a comprehensive cancer center. Patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Self-Reported Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Statistical associations between pain with neuropathic features and other measures were explored.

Ninety-eight patients were enrolled. Seventeen percent of patients (95% CI, 10% to 24%) had positive S-LANSS scores suggesting pain with neuropathic features. Mean worst pain and mean interference scores were 7.2 (standard deviation [SD], 2.0) and 5.8 (SD, 2.5), respectively. EORTC QLQ-C30 global QOL, function, and symptom scores were 42 (SD, 24), 52 (SD, 20), and 46 (SD, 17), respectively. Patients with neuropathic features had a higher BPI worst pain score than patients without neuropathic features (8.3 v 7.0, respectively; P = .016). Corticosteroid use, oral morphine equivalent dosing, and site of bone pain were not associated with neuropathic features.

Some patients with bone metastases manifest bone pain with distinguishable neuropathic features, and these patients reported greater pain intensity. Additional work is required to validate the S-LANSS against clinical criteria for neuropathic pain in this context and to explore the unmet pain management needs in this population.