title: The use of transdermal buprenorphine to relieve radiotherapy-related pain in head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: Many head and neck cancer (HNC) patients experience painful therapy-related mucositis and dermatitis. This prospective observational study evaluated transdermal buprenorphine use in HNC patients to relieve treatment-related pain. During treatment with paracetamol or tramadol, visual analogue scale (VAS)-pain scores >30/100 occurred in 26/45 patients 4 weeks after starting cancer therapy, persisting for ≥2 weeks after treatment. These patients subsequently received transdermal buprenorphine. Pain therapy should be more accurately up-titrated to the maximum recommended dose (140 μg/hr) where necessary to maintain pain scores ≤30/100 and, for some patients, should be continued for 6 weeks after the last cancer treatment day.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat, Leuven, Belgium. johan.menten@uzleuven.be
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menten
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: Harlinde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deschutter
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Beek
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine