Interventional techniques for cancer pain management

Patients with cancer frequently experience pain, and even with increased modern knowledge and skills in drug and other therapy, this pain is poorly controlled in a significant proportion. For these patients, a range of interventional techniques can play a significant role in providing pain relief. These include neuraxial administration of opioids and other drugs, temporary or permanent blockade of nerve pathways and minimally invasive management of bony and other metastases. Those involved in the treatment of pain from cancer should be aware of the scope of these techniques and ready to call upon specialists in their use.