Interventional radiologic procedures with CT guidance in cancer pain management

Reduction of pain without systematic side effects can be achieved in advanced stages of cancer with precise percutaneous techniques guided with computed tomography (CT). CT guidance allows exact needle positioning, reducing complications and improving the results. Regional analgesia with neurolytic block (neurolysis) is achieved by injection of alcohol or phenol and involves intentional destruction of a nerve or nerves to interrupt nociceptive pathways for weeks or months. Percutaneous alcoholization of bone metastasis is indicated in patients with painful, severe, osteolytic bone metastasis if conventional anticancer therapy is ineffective and high doses of opiates are necessary to control pain and when rapid pain relief is necessary. Bone packing with acrylic glue (methyl methacrylate) is used to prevent pathologic fractures and pain in patients with vertebral body tumors and acetabular metastasis. With these techniques, the radiologist is able to play an active role in pain management and in improving the quality of life of patients with malignancies.