INTRAVENOUS PHENYTOIN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CRESCENDO PELVIC CANCER-RELATED PAIN

Rapidly progressive pain, or ''crescendo'' pain, can be a difficult ma nagement problem. A cancer patient is presented who experienced cresce ndo neuropathic pain due to progressive pelvic disease. This patient r eported significant pain relief with the administration of intravenous phenytoin. The case illustrates the type of therapeutic approach that may be considered for crescendo pain and highlights a potential role for intravenous phenytoin in the management of patients with crescendo cancer-related neuropathic pain. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committe e, 1997.