Classification of neuropathic pain in cancer patients

Purpose of review: Neuropathic pain can affect up to 40% in patients with cancer, which could be related to the tumour, treatment or comorbid diseases. Effective assessment to diagnose neuropathic pain is crucial in order to choose the right treatment. Recent findings: There is to date no systematic classification system; the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group of the International Association for the Study of Pain developed a neuropathic pain grading system intended to be used for both clinical and research purposes, and a recent review describes a step-by-step process for applying the grading system in a clinical setting for cancer pain. Summary: We have combined these recommendations to outline a clinically relevant process to classify neuropathic pain in patients with cancer.