title: Orofacial pain and neurosensory disorders and dysfunction in cancer patients.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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. gtc@usc.edu
authors.forename: Glenn T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Saravanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ram
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014313:Trismus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers