The Post-mastectomy Pain Syndrome-A Systematic Review of the Treatment Modalities

Inga Magdalena Larsson1, Jens Ahm Sørensen1, Camilla Bille1

  • 1Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

The Breast Journal
|January 31, 2017
PubMed

Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a chronic neuropathic pain condition, affecting many women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. The development of PMPS is complex and the treatment options are limited. In this systematic review, we have analyzed the existing treatment modalities of PMPS. Six studies on five treatments were carefully selected, critically evaluated, and presented. The treatments were: antidepressants, anti-epileptics, topical capsaicin, and autologous fat grafting. Four of these treatments had a significant effect on PMPS. However, most of the studies had several flaws and therefore larger studies of high quality should be performed in the future.