Post-mastectomy pain syndrome: Incidence and risks

Abstract

One hundred seventy-four women were examined. The mean age was 58 years. The incidence of pain syndrome was 52%. Younger women (<40 years) and those who were submitted to axillary lymph node dissection (with more than 15 lymph nodes excised) have shown a significantly increased risk of pain syndrome after surgery for breast cancer (relative risk (RR) =5.23 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-24.64) and (RR=2.01 95% CI: 1.08-3.75).