title: How to diagnose neuropathic pain? The contribution from clinical examination, pain questionnaires and diagnostic tests.
abstract: Patients with peripheral and central nervous system diseases may suffer from different types of pain, namely nociceptive, neuropathic and mixed pain. Although in some cases, the distinction between these types of pain is clinically evident, yet in some patients an accurate differential diagnosis requires dedicated clinical examination, screening questionnaires and diagnostic techniques some of which are available only in specialized pain centres. This review briefly addresses the currently agreed definitions of the different types of pain and shows how clinical examination, pain questionnaires and diagnostic tests can help the clinicians in identifying neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University Sapienza, Viale Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Cesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamburin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience/Rehabilitation, Neurophysiology Unit, Arcispedale Sant'Anna, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tugnoli
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Unit, C. Mondino National Institute of Neurology Foundation, IRCCS, Pavia and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandrini
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, San Pio X Clinic, Fondazione Opera San Camillo, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacerenza
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Pain Medicine Center, Hospital San Raffaele of Milan, Milan, Italy.|Pain Pathophysiology and Therapy, University of Southern Switzerland, (SUPSI), Manno, Lugano, CH, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchettini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University Sapienza, Viale Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cruccu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University Sapienza, Viale Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy. andrea.truini@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2630-7647
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truini
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Laser evoked potentials; Neuropathic pain; Screening tools; Skin biopsy