title: Persistent pain in anal cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anorectal cancers are highly curable malignancies. Combined modality treatment with chemotherapy and radiation has dramatically improved both disease-free and overall survival. Little is known about symptomatic complications of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report based on chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients presented with painful anal lesions that were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. Despite successful treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, their pain syndromes worsened after treatment with development of a lumbosacral plexopathy that required regular followup, imaging, and pain medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pain syndromes may worsen after successful treatment given with curative intent, and may be a form of treatment toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment related lumbosacral plexopathy may be an unrecognized consequence of the successful treatment of anal carcinoma. These symptoms can be controlled with analgesics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. Badinsi@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Badin
authors.forename: Afsheen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Manzurul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sikder
authors.forename: Victor T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017741:Survivors