AUTHOR=Dan-feng Zhou , Jian-cheng Rong , Shu-zhen Zheng , Kun Zhang , Hong-zhi Yang , Lian-sheng Yang , Chun-zhi Tang 

TITLE=Enhanced acupuncture therapy for radiotherapy-related neuropathic pain in patients with gynecologic cancer: a report of two cases and brief review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1163990

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2023.1163990

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=As radiation therapy is increasingly utilized in the treatment of cancer, neuropathic pain is common radiotherapy-related adverse event and has significant impact on clinical outcomes negatively. However, despite improved understanding of neuropathic pain management, pain is often under-treated in patients with cancer. Herein, we reported two cases with radiotherapy-related neuropathic pain(RRNP) who presented positive reaction to acupuncture. Patient 1 (a 73-year-old female) with gynecologic cancer complained of burning and electric shock-like pain in the lower limb after radiotherapy. Accepted combination of acupuncture and drugs, the pain was alleviated completely in 8 weeks. Patient 2 (a 64-year-old female) accepted acupuncture in the absence of medication because of inability to tolerate the adverse events of anticonvulsant drugs. She achieved remission of pain 4 weeks later. The results of this study showed that acupuncture might be promising for controlling the RRNP in patients with cancer, especially who were intolerant or unresponsive to medications.