BMC Palliat Care. 2025 Apr 21;24(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s12904-025-01745-y.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Head and neck cancer is the seventh most prevalent cancer, with over 660,000 new cases and 325,000 annual fatalities, accounting for 30% of all cancer cases. Chronic cancer-related pain affects 15-75% of patients, with myofascial pain being especially common in those with head and neck cancers, ranging from 11.9 to 44.8%. Surgery and radiotherapy, the primary treatments for these cancers, contribute to myofascial pain development. Additionally, head and neck cancer patients face higher psychological distress, with rates up to 50%. This study estimates the prevalence, topography of the musculoskeletal group, and emotional impact of myofascial pain in terms of depression in patients three months post-treatment, emphasizing early diagnosis for improved quality of life.
METHODS: We conducted a time-bound cross-sectional observational study using convenience sampling of 120 patients with head and neck cancer who were post-surgery or radiotherapy over a 12-month period from April 2023 to March 2024. Data were collected using structured proforma and validated tools. Descriptive statistics summarized continuous variables, and chi-square tests compared categorical variables. Pearson correlation measured linear relationships, while regression analysis estimated the relationship between pain and explanatory variables. A two-sided p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: The prevalence of myofascial pain was 68.3% (n = 82), though no statistically significant relationship was found between its occurrence and time since therapy (p > 0.05). The most affected muscle was sternocleidomastoid (55%), followed by masseter (29.2%), trapezius (25.8%), temporalis (15%), levator scapulae (8.3%), posterior cervical (5.8%), and splenius capitis (3.3%). Additionally, 75.8% (n = 91) of participants had depression on PHQ-9, with 85.4% (n = 70) with myofascial pain experiencing depressive symptoms. Pain score and depression in patients with myofascial pain were positively correlated with a value of 0.579 (p-value < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Myofascial pain is common in patients with head and neck cancer post-treatment with a negative impact on emotional well-being. It primarily affects the muscles involved in the neck and shoulder movements. It is important to identify early and manage the complications to enhance quality of life.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry India and the assigned registration number for this study is CTRI/2023/03/050268 on 02/03/2023.
PMID:40259373 | DOI:10.1186/s12904-025-01745-y
