THE EFFICACY OF CT-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS CORDOTOMY ON INTRACTABLE PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER

ABSTRACT Aim This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous cordotomy and postoperative complications in the treatment of intractable pain associated with lung cancer. Material &Method Computed tomography (CT) guided-cordotomy was performed on 10 lung cancer patients unresponsive to medical and interventional pain management methods. Results The mean pretreatment and post treatment visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the patients were determined as 10 ± 0.0001 and 1.00 ± 0.67, respectively. Additionally, the mean pretreatment and posttreatment Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores of the patients were calculated as 40± 9.42 and 73±10.59, respectively. Accordingly, there was a statistically significant difference between the pretreatment and posttreatment VAS and KPS scores. Furthermore, the mean pretreatment and posttreatment morphine equivalent dose of the patients were found as 860.2±199.8 mg and 220.7±69.08 mg, respectively. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that cordotomy is a valuable treatment option for intractable pain problems in patients suffering from lung cancer.