title: Clinical and neurophysiological evaluation of persistent sensory disturbances in breast cancer women after mastectomy with or without radiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer surgery or radiotherapy (RT) are potential causes of persistent pain syndrome. It remains to be clarified whether numbness or pain reported by patients after mastectomy and RT are conditioned by changes in nerve transmission. The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between subjective sensory complications and neurophysiological examinations in breast cancer survivors with post-mastectomy pain syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty breast cancer survivors (30 patients only after mastectomy - group A; and 30 after mastectomy with RT - group B) complaining of pain and sensory disturbances in the brachial plexus area and 20 healthy women (group C) were studied with regard to sensory perception and pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale and electroneurography (ENG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant decrease in the amplitudes in SCV recordings following stimulation of the ulnar (p = 0.04) and lateral cutaneous antebrachii nerves (p = 0.02) in group B in comparison to group C. Additionally, a significant decrease in the amplitude and conduction velocity parameters was detected in the sensory fibers of the median and medial cutaneous antebrachii nerves in group A (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively) in comparison to group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this pilot study suggest persistent post-mastectomy pain syndrome sometimes appears as a result of nerve injury in course of breast cancer surgery and RT. Therefore studies in nerve conduction may be added to the comprehensive patient assessment used in planning breast cancer patients' rehabilitation after oncological treatment has finished.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: khojan@op.pl.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hojan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology of Locomotor Organs, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Science, 28 Czerwca 1956 St. No 135/147, 61-545 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojtysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology of Locomotor Organs, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Science, 28 Czerwca 1956 St. No 135/147, 61-545 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Juliusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 79 Dąbrowskiego St., 60-529, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molińska-Glura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology of Locomotor Organs, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Science, 28 Czerwca 1956 St. No 135/147, 61-545 Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiertel-Krawczuk
authors.affiliation: Chair and Department of Electroradiology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milecki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Cancer; Post-mastectomy pain syndrome; Radiation treatment; Sensory disturbances