Cancer pain: a neurological perspective

Nerve pain in cancer is common, mainly manifested by a radiculopathy associated with vertebral metastasis, by a plexopathy caused by lymph-node involvement or, more rarely, by trigeminal involvement in cancer of the head and neck. Less frequent types of nerve pain can occur as late effects of antitumour therapy, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The distinction between a nociceptive and a non-nociceptive nerve pain helps in determining the most appropriate symptomatic management.