Case Series: Cancer-Related Facial Pain Treated with Stellate Ganglion Block.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Raheleh Rahimi Darabad, Indiana University; Jerry Kalangara, Emory University; Anna Woodbury, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020
• Publisher: Emory University Libraries
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Raheleh Rahimi Darabad et al., 2020; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/pmr.2020.0042
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Palliat Med Rep
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 290
• End Page: 295
• Grant/Funding Information: This material is based upon work supported, in part, by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Career Development Award Grant #5IK1RX002113-02. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Government.
• Keywords: stellate ganglion block; cancer; orofacial pain; sympathetic ganglia
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is believed to modify the pathologic sympathetic pain response and has been commonly used to treat complex regional pain syndrome. We report successful treatment of cancer-related facial pain with SGB in three patients, suggesting a possible sympathetic pain-related mechanism. All patients exhibited clinically significant improvement of pain 12 weeks following the procedure. SGB should be considered a palliative pain treatment option in cancer-related facial pain.