No abstract

PurposePersistent pain is a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence, associated treatment-related factors, and the type of pain (neuropathic or nociceptive) in patients who had undergone a unilateral mastectomy.MethodsAll women who underwent a unilateral mastectomy at a University Hospital between 2009 and 2013 were eligible for inclusion. Women with breast reconstruction or active cancer were excluded. Participants were mailed a questionnaire evaluating the prevalence, location, intensity, and frequency of surgical site pain. Additionally, the painDETECT®, a validated instrument to evaluate neuropathic pain, was mailed to all participants.ResultsA total of 305 women were included, and of them, 261 (85.6%) completed the study questionnaire. After a median follow-up period of 3.0 years, 100 women (38.3%) reported experiencing pain at the surgical site. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, radiation therapy, and axillary lymph node dissection were significantly associated with persistent pain in univariate models. However, only body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was independently associated with persistent pain (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–4.27; p=0.034) in a multivariate analysis. Of the patients reporting pain, 71.0% were unlikely to have a neuropathic pain component. A moderate, but highly significant, positive correlation was observed between the pain intensity and the painDETECT® score (rs=0.47, p<0.001).ConclusionPersistent pain after breast cancer treatment continues to have a high prevalence. Our results indicate that the largest proportion of patients experiencing persistent pain after breast cancer treatment do not have a clear neuropathic pain component.

Our results differ from previously published studies in that no beneficial effect on necrosis rates of was found after implementing LA-ICGA, possibly due to our limited sample size.

The treatment of deep sternal wound infection has evolved considerably, but there is still little consensus regarding optimal surgical management and a general lack of a standard treatment protocol. The use of muscle flap transposition is well documented. Recent studies recommend the use of topical negative pressure therapy as an adjunct to surgical reconstruction.

Using AFG to reconstruct BCS defects induces considerable radiologic breast imaging changes. Although the patients experience significant improvements in body image, breast aesthetic appearance, and scar quality, the long-term effect of breast imaging changes warrants further investigation.