Orofacial pain and neurosensory disorders and dysfunction in cancer patients.

Glenn T Clark, Saravanan Ram

Journal: Dental clinics of North America 2008;52(1):183-202, ix-x

PMID: 18154870

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Orofacial pain and altered nerve sensation may be the initial sign of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal cancer. This article focuses on the most common orofacial pain conditions and neurosensory alterations that affect cancer patients, such as neuropathic pain, muscle spasm or contractures, mucositis, and increased or decreased sensory discrimination in the affected area. The various pharmacotherapeutic modalities for cancer pain management ranging from non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for mild pain to opioids for severe pain are discussed in detail.

Address: Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center, Division of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, 925 West 34th Street, Room B-14, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/j.cden.2007.09.003

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MeSH Terms: Analgesics, Non-Narcotic, Analgesics, Opioid, Anticonvulsants, Antidepressive Agents, Facial Pain, Humans, Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms, Oropharyngeal Neoplasms, Sodium Channel Blockers, Stomatitis, Trismus