Post-mastectomy pain syndrome: Incidence and risks

BackgroundPost-mastectomy pain syndrome is defined as a chronic pain that persists beyond the normal healing time of 3 months. It is considered a neuropathic condition that arises after surgery for breast cancer.AimTo evaluate the incidence and risk factors of pain syndromes in patients undergoing surgical treatment of breast cancer in the National Cancer Institute.MethodsThis study is a prospective cohort of women undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer from September 2008 to June 2009, followed up until 6 months postoperatively.Results and conclusionsOne hundred seventy-four women were examined. The mean age was 58 years. The incidence of pain syndrome was 52%. Younger women (<40 years) and those who were submitted to axillary lymph node dissection (with more than 15 lymph nodes excised) have shown a significantly increased risk of pain syndrome after surgery for breast cancer (relative risk (RR) = 5.23 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–24.64) and (RR = 2.01 95% CI: 1.08–3.75).