Infection as a cause of rapidly increasing pain in cancer patients Journal Article


Authors: Coyle, N.; Portenoy, R. K.
Article Title: Infection as a cause of rapidly increasing pain in cancer patients
Abstract: Rapid escalation of cancer-related pain is usually assumed to be due to progression of the neoplasm. Occult local infection is a poorly recognized alternative cause. We describe two patients who developed rapidly increasing pain that was determined in each case to be due to occult local infection. These cases suggest that all patients with rapid escalation of chronic cancer pain should undergo an evaluation to identify a cause of changing nociception, and that infection should be considered among the possible diagnoses. Lack of fever or leukocytosis does not exclude local infection, and empirical treatment with antibiotics is sometimes indicated. © 1991.
Keywords: adult; antibiotic agent; case report; adenocarcinoma; infection; pain; cancer pain; breast neoplasms; fever; drug therapy, combination; gentamicin; morphine; bacterial infections; leukocytosis; nociception; intravenous drug administration; pain, intractable; antibiotics; middle age; abscess; cefazolin; cervix neoplasms; cancer; human; female; article
Journal Title: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume: 6
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0885-3924
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1991-05-01
Start Page: 266
End Page: 269
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0885-3924(91)90018-y
PUBMED: 2030303
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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  1. Nessa M Coyle
    123 Coyle
  2. Russell K. Portenoy
    165 Portenoy