Neuropathic Pain Following Surgery for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas with challenging surgical management.
• Understanding MPNST distribution, survival factors, and post-resection neuropathic pain is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the anatomic distribution of MPNSTs.
• To identify survival predictors in MPNST patients.
• To determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain and its effect on quality of life (QoL) post-MPNST resection.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 119 patients undergoing MPNST resection.
• Cross-sectional survey of 39 survivors assessing neuropathic pain (NRS, s-DN4) and QoL (EQ-5D-5L).

Main Results:

• MPNSTs most commonly affect the lower extremity (42.9%).
• Female sex and absence of metastases were linked to lower mortality odds.
• 82.1% of survivors reported neuropathic pain, with significantly lower QoL scores compared to the general population.

Conclusions:

• High neuropathic pain prevalence post-MPNST resection significantly impairs QoL.
• Consideration of nerve-sparing/reconstructive techniques is recommended.
• Future research should focus on pain risk factors and preventive strategies for MPNST survivors.