Acta Oncologica· 2026Q1· Review
Continuous intrathecal therapy for refractory cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on partially implanted devices
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Partially implanted intrathecal devices (PIDs) significantly reduce cancer pain intensity by 4 weeks, decrease opioid use, and improve quality of life compared to conventional therapy, with lower complication rates.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Partially implanted intrathecal devices (PIDs) significantly reduce pain intensity by 4 weeks in refractory cancer pain patients.
- PID therapy leads to reduced opioid consumption and improved quality of life compared to conventional treatments.
- Complication rates associated with PID therapy are lower than those of conventional therapy.
- Evidence for the impact of PIDs on depression, anxiety, and functional capacity is limited and inconsistent.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Conventional pain therapies sometimes fail in patients with severe neuropathic pain or bone metastases. Intrathecal therapy provides an alternative but is resource-intensive, technically demanding and costly. OBJECTIVE: To compare the advantages and limitations of partially implanted devices (PIDs) versus conventional medical management or totally implanted devices (TIDs) in adults with cancer-related pain. METHODS: A systematic literature review up to September 2024 was conducted, with an updated search performed in August 2026. Eligible studies included those on adults with refractory cancer pain receiving PID intrathecal therapy compared with conventional therapy, and comparative studies evaluating PIDs versus TIDs. Pain intensity was analysed using a meta-analysis; a synthesis without meta-analysis was used for other outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,102 records, 15 were included, evaluating pain intensity, systemic opioid dose, quality of life (QoL), depression/anxiety, functional capacity and complications in PID-treated patients. A meta-analysis of pain intensity at 4 weeks showed statistically significant reduction with intrathecal therapy, which also reduced opioid use and improved QoL. Complication rates were lower than in conventional therapy. Investigations of depression/anxiety and functional capacity were limited, with inconsistent findings. Certainty of evidence was moderate for pain intensity and QoL; low for opioid dose, depression/anxiety and complications; and very low for functional capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal therapy for refractory cancer pain with PIDs provides superior pain relief and improved QoL compared with the conventional therapy in patients with refractory cancer pain. Evidence for psychological and functional outcomes remains limited. Overall certainty of evidence is low to moderate, but findings support intrathecal therapy as a clinically meaningful option for selected patients.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Acta Oncologica, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Anesthesiology and Pain MedicineMedicine