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Updated: May 21, 2026

A Quantitative Sensory Testing Paradigm to Obtain Measures of Pain Processing in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: January 18, 2018
[Cancer pain in palliative medicine]
R Laufenberg-Feldmann1, R Schwab, R Rolke
1Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Deutschland. rita.laufenberg@unimedizin-mainz.de
Abstract:
During the course of cancer progression up to 90% of the patients suffer from pain of nociceptive, neuropathic or mixed nociceptive/neuropathic origin. Psychological, social or existential factors may additionally affect the intensity of pain (concept of "total pain"). The WHO "analgesic ladder" provides a large variety of effective drugs that can be used according to the specific pain type. Parenteral or peridural opioid therapy as well as neurodestructive methods can effectively support the analgesic treatment in selected cases.
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