Current pain and headache reports
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2009
ReviewStereotactic radiosurgery in the management of cancer pain.
Pain can be a significant problem for the patient with advanced cancer, particularly if bone metastases are present. Radiation therapy is efficacious and has been a mainstay in the treatment of pain from bone metastases. ⋯ The indications for radiosurgery are continually expanding, and new and more sophisticated equipment is being developed to deliver more precise treatments. This article discusses the biology, rationale, evolution, and future direction of radiosurgery for the treatment of pain related to bony metastatic disease.
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Among the established and potential comorbidities of migraine, the temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are rarely discussed, although they are of importance for several reasons. TMD may cause headaches per se, worsen existent primary headaches, and add to the burden of headache disorders. ⋯ We discuss the similarities between both conditions, review evidence to support the idea that both disorders are comorbid, and highlight the limited evidence suggesting that TMD influence migraine progression. Finally, we discuss the importance of cutaneous allodynia mediating the TMD/frequent headache relationship.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2009
ReviewVertebroplasty in the management of painful bony metastases.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty is the injection of bone cement, usually polymethylmethacrylate into the vertebral body. This procedure is most often performed in a percutaneous fashion on an outpatient (or short-stay) basis. Among other indications, the procedure is designated for painful vertebral compression fractures due to primary or metastatic spinal tumors. ⋯ The overall risk of the procedure is low, although serious complications (including spinal cord compression) can occur. Recent advances in technique and materials may reduce the incidence of adverse outcomes. Proper patient selection and meticulous technique are required to achieve best results and to avoid complications.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2009
ReviewMedical imaging in the diagnosis and management of cancer pain.
Within the past few decades medical imaging has evolved very rapidly, now becoming an indispensable tool for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with cancer-related pain. Multiple imaging modalities are available for the assessment of cancer patients, each one with different advantages and limitations that are important to consider at the time we order a diagnostic study or plan an image-guided procedure. This article reviews the role that various imaging modalities play in the management of cancer pain and provides an overview of the latest technological advances.