Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 40, Issue 2 , Pages 183-190 , August 2010

Breakthrough Pain in Oncology: A Longitudinal Study

  • Sebastiano Mercadante, MD

      Affiliations

    • Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
    • Palliative Medicine, Department of Anesthesia & Intensive Care, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: Sebastiano Mercadante, MD, Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Via San Lorenzo 312, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
    • ,
  • Vittoria Zagonel, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Enrico Breda, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Carlo Arcara, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
    • ,
  • Vittorio Gebbia, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
    • ,
  • Giampiero Porzio, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
    • ,
  • Federica Aielli, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
    • ,
  • Fabrizio David, MD

      Affiliations

    • Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
    • ,
  • Teresa Gammucci, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Ospedale SS Trinità Sora, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Filomena Narducci, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Ospedale SS Trinità Sora, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Gaetano Lanzetta, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Istituto Neurotraumatologico Italiano, Grottaferrata, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Rossella Restuccia, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Istituto Neurotraumatologico Italiano, Grottaferrata, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Alessandro Lembo, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Casa di Cura Marco Polo, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Virginia Passeri, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, Casa di Cura Marco Polo, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Vladimir Virzì, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, University Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Alessandra Casuccio, BS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

,Accepted 4 January 2010.

References 

  1. Portenoy RK, Hagen NA. Breakthrough pain: definition, prevalence, and characteristics. Pain. 1990;41:273–281
  2. Caraceni A, Martini C, Zecca E, et al. Working Group of an IASP Task Force on Cancer Pain Breakthrough pain characteristics and syndromes in patients with cancer pain. An international survey. Palliat Med. 2004;18:177–183
  3. Swanwick M, Haworth M, Lennard RF. The prevalence of episodic pain in cancer: a survey of hospice patients on admission. Palliat Med. 2001;15:9–18
  4. Zeppetella G, O'Doherty CA, Collins S. Prevalence and characteristics of breakthrough pain in cancer patients admitted to a hospice. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2000;20:87–92
  5. Fine PG, Busch MA. Characterization of breakthrough pain by hospice patients and their caregivers. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1998;16:179–183
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  9. Hwang SS, Chang VT, Kasimis B. Cancer breakthrough pain characteristics and responses to treatment at a VA medical center. Pain. 2003;101:55–64
  10. Mercadante S, Roila F, Berretto O, Labianca R, Casilini S DOMAIN-AIOM Study Group. Prevalence and treatment of cancer pain in Italian oncological wards centres: a cross-sectional survey. Support Care Cancer. 2008;16:1203–1211
  11. Mercadante S, Costanzo B, Fusco F, Buttà V, Casuccio A. Breakthrough pain in advanced cancer patients followed at home: a longitudinal study. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2009;38:554–560
  12. Portenoy RK, Payne R, Coluzzi P, et al. Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients: a controlled dose titration study. Pain. 1999;79:303–312
  13. Davies A, Vriens J, Kennett A, McTeggart M. An observational study of oncology patients' utilization of breakthrough pain medication. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2008;35:406–411
  14. Jensen MP, Mendoza T, Hanna DB, Chen C, Cleeland CS. The analgesic effects that underlie patient satisfaction with treatment. Pain. 2004;110:480–487
  15. Abraham J. The oncologist's expanding role. Cancer. 1999;85:1645–1648
  16. Mercadante S. Pain treatment and outcomes for patients with advanced cancer who receive follow-up care at home. Cancer. 1999;85:1849–1858
  17. Porzio G, Aielli F, Verna L, et al. Effective analgesic score: a “marker” of the effects of chemotherapy on pain in advanced cancer patients?. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007;34:339–342

PII: S0885-3924(10)00224-1

doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.01.010

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume 40, Issue 2 , Pages 183-190 , August 2010

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