A Case of Nerve Root Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation for Pain Due to Pleural Metastasis of Lung Cancer Leading to Improvement in the Patient's Quality of Life.

Advances in medicine have made long-term survival of cancer patients possible. Hence, it is now necessary to consider how to approach common symptoms, such as cancer-related pain, in these patients. In this study, we describe a lung cancer patient in whom relief of intractable thoracic pain caused by pleural metastasis was achieved through thoracic radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF), improving his quality of life (QOL).

Two Cases of Splanchnic Nerve Block With Epidural Anesthesia in Patients Unable to Maintain Prone Position Due to Pancreatic Pain.

Splanchnic nerve block is considered to be effective for abdominal visceral pain, and is performed for the purpose of controlling abdominal pain and back pain caused by upper abdominal cancer. The patients in this case report were candidates for splanchnic nerve block owing to cancer-associated pain. However, because they could not assume the prone position that is required for the block owing to their pain, combined epidural anesthesia was used, resulting in successful implementation of the splanchnic nerve block.

Two cases of low back pain of unknown etiology diagnosed as multiple myeloma.

We report two cases of patients complaining of lumbar back pain of unknown etiology which were finally diagnosed as multiple myeloma. The first case was a woman in her 80s with a chief complaint of lumbar back pain. The second case was a male in his 70s.

A case of phantom pain and stump pain that was effectively controlled by ultrasound-guided ulnar and median peripheral nerve blocks.

Phantom limb pain and stump pain are often intractable, and their incidences are relatively high. We report a case of a patient with phantom limb and stump pain of the finger, who was successfully treated by peripheral nerve blocks. The patient was a male truck driver in his fifties, who had his left annular finger amputated in an accident 2 years previously.

[The efficacy of ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block with hockey stick typed probe].

We report a case of ultrasound-guided infraorbital nerve block with a hockey stick typed probe in plane approach. Individual difference of infraorbital anatomy makes it difficult to puncture the infraorbital for a man, and the risks include bleeding, double vision and paranasal sinus puncture. The advantage of ultrasound-guided nerve block has been reported.

Cytokine marker measurement in human neuroblastoma cells with supersensitive and multiplex assay: MUSTag technology.

Background: Recently, various sets of protein -biomarkers have been discovered in important diseases such as cancers, brain stroke and heart attack. However, clinical validation is difficult and time-consuming by individual assays or because of very low concentrations at early stages of the diseases. We have developed assay technology through an innovative modification of the immuno-PCR method for the super-sensitive and multiplex detection of target biomarkers.

[Actual effectiveness of nerve block against neuropathic pain].

Evidence regarding the effectiveness of nerve block in treating neuropathic pain is scarce. However, in actual clinical situations, nerve block has been used as a treatment in combination with other methods, such as pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and physiotherapy. The goal of neuropathic pain treatment is not a complete recovery but some improvement in the activities of daily living (ADL) as well as the quality of life.

[Ultrasound guided T2 intercostal nerve block: a comparison with stellate ganglion block under the blind technique and ultrasound guided technique].

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of stellate ganglion block, performed by ultrasound guided technique and blind technique, and ultrasound guided T2 intercostal nerve block.

Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the changes in upper arm skin temperature, and the development of Horner syndrome after stellate ganglion block (blind technique and ultrasound guided technique) and ultrasound guided T2 intercostal nerve block in 12, 11 and 10 patients scheduled for each block. Stellate ganglion blocks (blind technique) were performed via an anterior paratracheal approach at C6 using 1% mepivacaine 5 ml.

[Ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-assisted selective cervical nerve root blocks].

Background: In this article, we describe 14 case reports of using ultrasound guidance to facilitate blockade of the cervical nerve root.

Methods: A total of 14 ultrasound-guided selective cervical nerve root blocks using fluoroscopy were performed in 10 patients. The target point was the spinal nerve root between the anterior and posterior tubercles of the most lateral aspect of the transverse process C3-7, and C8 nerve root on the first rib.

Referred pain distribution of the cervical zygapophyseal joints and cervical dorsal rami.

The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of referred pain from the cervical zygapophyseal joints (C0/1 to C7/Th1) and the cervical dorsal rami (C3 to C7). The subjects were 61 patients who had occipital, neck, and shoulder pain of suspected zygapophyseal origin in whom pain was reproduced by injection of contrast medium into the joints or by electrical stimulation of the dorsal rami. Under fluoroscopic control, the zygapophyseal joints from C0/1 to C7/Th1 were stimulated by the injection of contrast medium and while electrical stimulation of the cervical zygapophyseal dorsal rami at segments C3 to C7 was performed during facet denervation.