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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Systemic and Local Drug Delivery for Treating Diseases of the Central Nervous System in Rodent Models
Published on: August 16, 2010
Fibrous mass complicating epidural morphine infusion
Abstract:
The benefits of continuous epidural morphine infusion using an implanted pump delivery system to control intractable cancer pain have recently been described. Most articles on this subject relate to dosage, technique, degree of pain relief, and tolerance. There are some anticipated complications of the treatment related to the surgical implantation of the system and drug toxicity. We present a complication presumably related to the epidural catheter. A fibrous reaction that developed around the catheter tip progressed into a mass. This caused a significant displacement of the spinal cord with the development of long tract symptoms. Identification of this abnormality using myelography and computed tomography led to prompt surgical decompression resulting in improvement of the patient's condition.
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