title: Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation (PNFS) as a Treatment Option for Intractable Radiation-Induced Facial Neuropathic Pain in a Survivor of Laryngeal Cancer: A Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment-related chronic neuropathic pain represents a major and increasing cause of discomfort in cancer survivors. Unfortunately, in approximately 10%-15% of cases, pain is scarcely relieved by opioids and common painkillers. Thus, alternative measures to manage pain have recently been adopted in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a laryngeal cancer survivor who developed an intractable bilateral mandibular radiation-induced neuropathic pain syndrome. His pain was refractory to any pharmacological treatment, whereas the implant of bilateral subcutaneous facial electrodes led to the complete resolution of pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in literature describing peripheral nerve field stimulation as a treatment option for intractable cancer treatment-related chronic neuropathic pain. Peripheral nerve field stimulation appears to be a safe and effective procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: vincenzo.levi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivano
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dones
mesh_terms: D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017741:Survivors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cancer treatment-related pain; Neuromodulation; Peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS)