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Pain Management for Hepatobiliary Cancer

  • Management of Key Complications in Hepatocellular Cancer
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Although many options exist to address hepatobiliary cancer-induced pain, it remains undertreated and has an adverse impact on quality of life. Fortunately, if addressed appropriately, the majority of patients can be treated successfully. This pain may be nociceptive, neuropathic, or a combination of the two. A multimodality approach including oral and intravenous opioid and non-opioid medications, and interventional approaches including celiac plexus blocks and implantation of drug delivery systems for intrathecal delivery of opioids can be considered and utilized as appropriate. We review the pathophysiology of pain, the approach to correctly diagnosing the different types of pain, the appropriate treatment recommendations, and how to avoid and address the common side effects resulting from these treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Daniel Halpert DO

  2. Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 550 N. Broadway, Suite 301, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Michael A. Erdek MD

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  1. Daniel Halpert DO
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Correspondence to Michael A. Erdek MD.

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Halpert, D., Erdek, M.A. Pain Management for Hepatobiliary Cancer. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 9, 234–241 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-008-0069-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-008-0069-x

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