Dorsal rhizotomy for pain from neoplastic lumbosacral plexopathy in advanced pelvic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pain from neoplastic lumbosacral plexopathy is resistant to conventional pain treatment. According to a recent review of destructive procedures for cancer pain, only cordotomy has been reported to play an important role in the treatment of cancer pain. To date, the effectiveness of dorsal rhizotomy, which selectively interrupts pain transmission, has not been shown in neoplastic lumbosacral plexopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The present study seeks to find out the effectiveness of selective dorsal rhizotomies for intractable pain from neoplastic lumbosacral plexopathy in terminal pelvic cancer patients.

METHODS: Dorsal rhizotomies of the involved segments were performed on 6 cancer patients in whom neuropathic pain from lumbosacral plexus involvement in terminal pelvic cancer had been refractory to other therapies. Clinical efficacy of the procedure was assessed by comparing patient pain ratings and narcotic usage before and after dorsal rhizotomy.

RESULTS: Examination of the results indicated a significant reduction in pain ratings as well as a significant reduction in daily narcotic use. No adverse neurological effects were observed and no recurrence of pain from neoplastic lumbosacral plexopathy was noted.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide corroborating clinical evidence for the effectiveness of selective dorsal root rhizotomy for the intractable pain from lumbosacral plexopathy in terminal pelvic cancer patients.