TITLE:
Ultrasound-Guided Pectoral Hydrodissection for the Treatment of Chronic Breast Pain Post Surgery and Radiotherapy: A Case Report
AUTHORS:
Gavin David O’Connor, Xhejni Spahillari, Dominic Harmon
KEYWORDS:
Hydrodissection, Chronic, Pain, Breast
JOURNAL NAME:
Pain Studies and Treatment,
Vol.13 No.4,
September
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: Chronic chest wall and upper limb pain is a common complication following breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy, affecting up to 60% of patients and significantly impacting their quality of life. We present the case of an 83-year-old woman with significant right-sided chest wall pain persisting several years after lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Her symptoms included burning and shooting pain, radiating from the breast to the axilla and fingers, not responding to conservative management. She underwent ultrasound-guided hydrodissection of the pectoral muscles using 10 mls of 5% dextrose. The procedure was well tolerated and resulted in a complete resolution of her symptoms at two-month follow-up, with self-reported improvements in function, mood, sleep, and mobility. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pectoral muscle hydrodissection for chronic breast pain post-breast cancer surgery. This technique can offer a minimally invasive, non-pharmacological alternative that may reduce the need for oral analgesics and improve patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to explore its broader clinical application.