Case Report

Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases

Volume: 42 Number: 2 June 30, 2025
  • Jae Hwan Kim
  • Daeseok Oh *
  • Sung Ho Moon
  • Myoung Jin Ko
  • Yei Heum Park
  • Byeongcheol Lee
  • Jiyeon Kwon

Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases

Abstract

Pleural metastasis-related pain poses a significant challenge in patients with cancer, often leading to severe discomfort and impaired quality of life. Thoracic paravertebral block is an effective regional anesthesia technique for managing such pain, particularly when performed under ultrasound guidance. This report illustrates the use of ultrasound for identifying metastatic lesions and guiding thoracic paravertebral block in two patients with pleural metastasis. The first case involved a 76-year-old woman with severe left upper back pain secondary to lung cancer metastasis. Ultrasound confirmed the presence of a lesion at the T5 level, and ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block provided immediate and substantial pain relief, thereby improving sleep quality. The second patient was a 72-year-old man with intractable left upper back pain. Ultrasonography revealed a metastatic lesion at T6, and subsequent thoracic paravertebral block led to significant pain reduction and improved pain management with reduced opioid use. Both cases highlight the effectiveness of ultrasound in accurately locating metastatic lesions and determining the appropriate spinal level for thoracic paravertebral block, resulting in significant pain relief and improved quality of life. These findings underscore the importance of precise anatomical localization and the potential of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block as a valuable tool for managing pain associated with pleural metastases.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the institutional review boards of the Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Republic of Korea; a waiver of consent was obtained (Number: HP IRB 2024-05-040 Date: 2024.5.31).

Thanks

None

References

  1. Tsuzuki Y, Nishiyama T, Ishida Y, Maeda R, Tomino M, Ohseto K. A case of nerve root radiofrequency thermocoagulation for pain due to pleural metastasis of lung cancer leading to improvement in the patient's quality of life. Palliat Med Rep. 2023;4:288-91.
  2. Nair S, Gallagher H, Conlon N. Paravertebral blocks and novel alternatives. BJA Educ. 2020;20(5):158-65. Ardon AE, Lee J, Franco CD, Riutort KT, Greengrass RA. Paravertebral block: anatomy and relevant safety issues. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2020;73(5):394-400.
  3. Bennett MI, Smith BH, Torrance N, Lee AJ. Can pain can be more or less neuropathic? Comparison of symptom assessment tools with ratings of certainty by clinicians. Pain. 2006;122:289-94.
  4. MacLeod N, Kelly C, Stobo J, McMahon L, Taggart D, Fallon M, et al. Pain in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Prospective Characterization Study. Pain Med. 2016;17(11):2119-26.
  5. Reamy BV, Williams PM, Odom MR. Pleuritic chest pain: sorting through the differential diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96:306-12.
  6. Krediet AC, Moayeri N, van Geffen GJ, Bruhn J, Renes S, Bigeleisen PE, et al. Different Approaches to Ultrasound- guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block: An Illustrated Review. Anesthesiology. 2015;123(2):459-74.
  7. Heo JY, Lee JW, Kim CH, Lee SM, Choi YS. The validation of ultrasound-guided target segment identification in thoracic spine as confirmed by fluoroscopy. Clin Orthop Surg. 2017;9:472-9.
  8. Malik T. Ultrasound-guided paravertebral neurolytic block: a report of two cases. Pain Pract. 2014;14(4):346-9.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pain, Anaesthesiology

Journal Section

Case Report

Authors

Jae Hwan Kim This is me
0000-0002-0041-3054
South Korea

Sung Ho Moon This is me
0000-0002-3602-9441
South Korea

Myoung Jin Ko This is me
0000-0002-5630-6485
South Korea

Yei Heum Park This is me
0000-0003-1900-7950
South Korea

Byeongcheol Lee This is me
0000-0001-7085-179X
South Korea

Jiyeon Kwon This is me
0000-0002-0170-577X
South Korea

Publication Date

June 30, 2025

Submission Date

January 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 9, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 42 Number: 2

APA
Kim, J. H., Oh, D., Moon, S. H., Ko, M. J., Park, Y. H., Lee, B., & Kwon, J. (2025). Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, 42(2), 222-225. https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA
AMA
1.Kim JH, Oh D, Moon SH, et al. Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2025;42(2):222-225. https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA
Chicago
Kim, Jae Hwan, Daeseok Oh, Sung Ho Moon, et al. 2025. “Utilization of Ultrasound to Confirm Lesions and Perform Paravertebral Blocks for Painful Pleural Metastasis Treatment – A Report of Two Cases”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42 (2): 222-25. https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA.
EndNote
Kim JH, Oh D, Moon SH, Ko MJ, Park YH, Lee B, Kwon J (June 1, 2025) Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42 2 222–225.
IEEE
[1]J. H. Kim et al., “Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases”, J. Exp. Clin. Med., vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 222–225, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA
ISNAD
Kim, Jae Hwan - Oh, Daeseok - Moon, Sung Ho - Ko, Myoung Jin - Park, Yei Heum - Lee, Byeongcheol - Kwon, Jiyeon. “Utilization of Ultrasound to Confirm Lesions and Perform Paravertebral Blocks for Painful Pleural Metastasis Treatment – A Report of Two Cases”. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 42/2 (June 1, 2025): 222-225. https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA.
JAMA
1.Kim JH, Oh D, Moon SH, Ko MJ, Park YH, Lee B, Kwon J. Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2025;42:222–225.
MLA
Kim, Jae Hwan, et al. “Utilization of Ultrasound to Confirm Lesions and Perform Paravertebral Blocks for Painful Pleural Metastasis Treatment – A Report of Two Cases”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 42, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 222-5, https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA.
Vancouver
1.Jae Hwan Kim, Daeseok Oh, Sung Ho Moon, Myoung Jin Ko, Yei Heum Park, Byeongcheol Lee, Jiyeon Kwon. Utilization of ultrasound to confirm lesions and perform paravertebral blocks for painful pleural metastasis treatment – A report of two cases. J. Exp. Clin. Med. [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;42(2):222-5. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA92PN42SA