[Pain assessment and therapy in bronchial carcinoma]

In the period from 1983-1991 133 patients (102 men, 31 women) with lung cancer were treated in our pain clinic for 8083 days. Pain was associated with tumour infiltration in 86% of patients and related to therapy in 15%. Even in 6 of 8 patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of "postthoracotomy syndrome" and in all 4 patients with "postradiation syndrome" local recurrence was diagnosed during follow-up. All 17 cases of brachial plexus lesions were caused by local tumour spread. Symptomatic treatment according to WHO guidelines resulted in good pain relief in 92% of patients and on 82% of days. The incidence of dyspnea decreased from 51% of the patients to 16%. Strong opioids were used on 56% of treatment days. Parenteral or spinal administration of opioids was necessary on 3% of days only.