A case in which pulse radiofrequency therapy to thoracic nerve root was effective against intractable cancer pain with suspected nerve invasion

Abstract

A 71-year-old male patient who underwent surgery for cancer in the right lung complained four months after the surgery of left hypochondrium pain that he described as persisting for one month. After being diagnosed with a compression fracture of the 8th thoracic vertebra due to metastatic bone tumor, he was referred to our pain clinic for the purpose of controlling the pain and intolerable side effects of opioids but the benefit of thoracic epidural block we provided was only temporary. His left hypochondrium pain was similar to electric shock suggesting the pain was of neuropathic nature. The next course of treatment composed of pulsed radiofrequency to the left 8th and 9th thoracic nerve roots proved effective in alleviating the pain allowing the patient to be discharged from our hospital. This experience suggests us that pulse radiofrequency therapy may be effective for pain relief and improving quality of life of patients with cancer pain localized in the thoracic nerve area.