A Review of Adult and Pediatric Neuropathic Pain Assessment Tools

Abstract

This article summarizes the various screening and assessment tools available to clinicians for evaluating NP. Despite the availability of the 15 tools discussed, a deficiency remains, particularly in the pediatric realm. To date, there is no well-validated NP assessment tool for children younger than 5 years, no pediatric NP screening tool that has been validated outside the domain of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and no consistent recommendation regarding the optimal tool to use with pediatric patients who have chronic pain. These areas, as well as others, would benefit from further research and development.

Recurrent Painful Ophthalmoplegic Neuropathy and Oculomotor Nerve Schwannoma: A Pediatric Case Report with Long-Term MRI Follow-Up and Literature Review

“…The IASP defines neuropathic pain (NP) as “pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system” [2]. There is increasing awareness about NP in pediatric chronic pain because there are fewer information available regarding the prevalence of NP in the pediatric population than adults [3], and the affected children experience significant physical, psychological, and social sequelae that affect not only themselves but also family and friends [4]. The chapter “painful lesions of the cranial nerves and other facial pains” includes the recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy (RPON), a condition characterized by repeated attacks of paresis of one or more ocular cranial nerves (commonly the III nerve), with ipsilateral headache [1].…”

A neuropathic pain component as a predictor of improvement in pain interference after radiotherapy for painful tumors: A secondary analysis of a prospective observational study

“…Although screening questionnaires to diagnose neuropathic pain [17] , [18] can be used reproducibly at any facility, it is not certain if the neuropathic pain identified by use of the questionnaires is caused by the irradiated tumors. Additionally, these screening questionnaires are often insufficiently accurate [1] , [12] , [19] . Neuropathic cancer pain can have many causes other than tumors.…”

“…Neuropathic pain occurs in 19% to 39% of cancer patients [1] , [2] , [3] ; it may be challenging therapeutically and have a substantial impact on patients’ quality of life [4] . Neuropathic cancer pain may be directly caused by tumors or be treatment-related.…”

20 / a Neuropathic Pain Component as a Predictor of Improvement in Pain Interference After Radiotherapy for Painful Tumors: A Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Observational Study

“…Although screening questionnaires to diagnose neuropathic pain [17,18] can be used reproducibly at any facility, it is not certain if the neuropathic pain identified by use of the questionnaires is caused by the irradiated tumors. Additionally, these screening questionnaires are often insufficiently accurate [1,12,19]. Neuropathic cancer pain can have many causes other than tumors.…”