[Chronic cancer pain: pathophysiology and ICD-11 classification]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pain Medicine
• Medical Classification

Background:

• Chronic cancer pain is a prevalent symptom in oncology patients and survivors.
• Effective recognition and management of cancer pain are growing priorities.
• Existing classifications may not fully capture the complexity of cancer-related pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathophysiological mechanisms of cancer-related pain.
• To analyze these mechanisms in the context of the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).
• To provide a framework for understanding and classifying cancer pain based on its underlying mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on cancer pain mechanisms.
• Analysis of pain classification systems, focusing on ICD-11.
• Synthesis of pathophysiological data related to cancer pain.

Main Results:

• Cancer pain arises from diverse mechanisms including tumor-related factors, treatments, and host responses.
• The ICD-11 classification offers a more detailed approach to categorizing cancer pain based on pathophysiology.
• Understanding these mechanisms is key to improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment strategies.

Conclusions:

• The ICD-11 framework facilitates a deeper understanding of cancer pain mechanisms.
• This approach can enhance the clinical management of chronic cancer pain.
• Further research integrating mechanistic insights with updated classifications is warranted.