title: Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy: the modified total neuropathy score in clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, potentially reversible side effect of some chemotherapeutic agents. CIPN is associated with decreased balance, function and quality of life (QoL). This association has to date been under-investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To profile patients presenting with CIPN using the modified Total Neuropathy Score (mTNS) in this cross-sectional study and to examine the relationship between CIPN (measured by mTNS) and indices of balance, quality of life (QoL) and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy regimens were identified using hospital databases. Those who did not have a pre-existing neuropathy were invited to complete mTNS, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and go (TUG), and FACT-G QoL questionnaire. mTNS scores were profiled and also correlated with BBS, TUG and FACT-G using Spearmans correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 29 patients undergoing neurotoxic chemotherapy regimens were tested. The patients mTNS scores ranged between 1 and 12 (median = 5), indicating that all patients had clinical evidence of neuropathy on mTNS. No significant correlations were found between mTNS and BERG (r = -0.29), TUG (r = 0.14), or FACT-G (r = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found a high prevalence of CIPN in patients treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy regimens. The mTNS provided a clinically applicable, sensitive screening tool for CIPN which could prove useful in clinical practice. mTNS did not correlate with BBS, TUG or FACT-G in this sample, possibly due to relatively mild levels of CIPN and consequent subtle impairments which were not adequately captured by gross functional assessments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Beaumont Hospital Cancer Centre, Dublin, Ireland, sinemurphy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guidon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Breathnach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents