Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the utility of a new technology, Lidocaine 5 % patch (L5%P), for providing analgesia without other sensory deficit in cancer patients with focal neuropathic pain (NP) related or not with cancer.
Methods: During the period February 2011 to July 2011, 83 patients were seen for the first time in our department and L5%P were prescribed to 15 of those patients (18.07 %). Information recorded in relation to the L5%P included the following: (a) Nature of NP, (b) medications tested, (c) drug combinations, (d) L5%P therapy duration, (e) efficacy, and (f) undesirable effects.
Results: Forty percent of the patients (n = 6) in our series had NP related to their cancer and 60 % (n = 9), chronic NP not related to their cancer diagnosis, but all referred to our Radiotherapy and Oncology Department for radiotherapy. The analgesic effect of the L5%P was potent in eight cases (53.33 %) and partial in four cases (26.66 %). This represents 79.99 % efficacy in selected patients. There were no serious adverse events reported in any of the patients.
Conclusion: The results indicate that there are patients with NP within a cancer setting who are suitable for treatment and successfully managed with topical L5%P, alone or in combination with other drugs.