Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cureus 2021 Jan 28;13(1):e12975. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Internal Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, PAK.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a dermatologic condition with predominant, primarily left unilateral pruritus and hyperpigmentation that typically occurs on the upper and middle back. The etiology remains largely elusive. A 57-year-old female with a history of neck pain presented with refractory NP since six months. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2021 02 5;13(2). Epub 2021 Feb 5.

Dermatological Clinic, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic Marche University, 60020 Ancona, Italy.

Botulinum toxin is a superfamily of neurotoxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum with well-established efficacy and safety profile in focal idiopathic hyperhidrosis. Recently, botulinum toxins have also been used in many other skin diseases, in off label regimen. The objective of this manuscript is to review and analyze the main therapeutic applications of botulinum toxins in skin diseases. Read More

Intern Med 2021 Feb 1. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Department of Primary Care and Community Health, Aichi Medical University, Japan.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021 Feb 11;35(2):e111-e113. Epub 2020 Aug 11.

Department of Dermatology, Hospital Central de la Defensa Gomez Ulla, Madrid, Spain.

J Can Chiropr Assoc 2020 Aug;64(2):139-143

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, ON.

Objective: To describe a case of a patient with chronic pruritus of the upper back and arms who underwent complete resolution of his complaint following a short course of chiropractic care.

Case Presentation: A 36-year-old male suffering with chronic, severe pruritus affecting the upper back and both arms, presented for chiropractic treatment after pharmacological treatment and dietary restrictions failed to resolve his complaint. Physical examination revealed restrictions of thoracic and cervical intervertebral motion. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2020 11 6;33(6):e13836. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Dermatology, Konya Numune State Hospital, Konya, Turkey.

Hautarzt 2020 Jul;71(7):493-499

Kompetenzzentrum Chronischer Pruritus (KCP), Klinik für Hautkrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.

Chronic pruritus is a common and burdensome symptom in medicine. The care of patients with chronic pruritus is very complex not only because of the high prevalence, but also because of the multifactorial character of itch and the lack of approved therapies. In addition to the main patient need to alleviate the pruritus, patients wish to find the cause of chronic pruritus. Read More

J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 2020 Jun;21(4):243-244

Neurology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.

BMC Neurol 2020 May 16;20(1):191. Epub 2020 May 16.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences University Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ulucanlar street, Ankara, Turkey.

Background/objective: Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a sensory neuropathy characterized by localized pruritus and pain, presenting with or without a well-circumscribed hyperpigmented patch in the upper back. Abnormal sensations, such as burning, numbness, and paresthesia are often present in patients with NP. In this study, we clinically and radiologically analyzed patients with NP. Read More

Rehabilitacion (Madr) 2020 Apr - Jun;54(2):142-145. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Servicio de Rehabilitación, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España.

Notalgia paresthetica is a sensory mononeuropathy caused by compression localized in the dorsal region. The condition is clinically characterised by the presence of pruritus, paresthesias and hyperalgesia associated with a hyperpigmented patch in the correspondingt dermatoma, substantially impairing quality of life. We report the cases of two patients aged between 35 and 65years with chronic symptoms and treated in our service with botulinum toxin type A in the affected areas. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2020 07 8;33(4):e13462. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.

Numerous treatment modalities have been tried with diverse results for pruritus due to notalgia paresthetica (NP). Corticosteroids suppress ectopic neural discharges from injured nerve fibers and also have short-lived suppressive effect on transmission in normal C-fibers. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of NP. Read More

Case Rep Womens Health 2020 Apr 30;26:e00197. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Department of Anesthesia, Critical Case and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America.

Chronic pruritus affects up to 20% of the population; about 8% of patients suffer from neurogenic pruritus, including notalgia paresthetica (NP). This is a syndrome of benign, chronic itch of the unilateral medial border of the scapula of unknown etiology and limited treatment efficacy. Here we report the background on NP, followed by a classic case presentation of a 63-year-old woman. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2020 Nov 13;189(4):1311-1316. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Economics, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey.

Background: Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a neuropathic itching condition unilaterally localized in the midscapular area. It is a common but an underdiagnosed disease, and only a few studies investigating NP etiology with a limited number of patients have been reported in the literature.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, histopathological, neurological, and radiological findings of NP patients and investigate correlations between them and symptoms of NP to elucidate the etiology of NP. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2020 03 5;33(2):e13242. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.

Skinmed 2019 1;17(6):370-372. Epub 2019 Nov 1.

Traditional and Complementary Medicine Application and Research Center, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a common clinical disorder characterized by hyperpigmentation, pruritus, paresthesia, and/or pain, located on the back. There is no effective treatment for patients with NP. We investigated the efficacy of a product containing bee venom (0. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2020 Apr 24;59(4):e125-e127. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.

Acta Clin Croat 2018 Dec;57(4):721-725

1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; 2Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

- Notalgia paresthetica is a common, although under-recognized condition characterized by localized chronic pruritus in the upper back, most often affecting middle-aged women. Apart from pruritus, patients may present with a burning or cold sensation, tingling, surface numbness, tenderness and foreign body sensation. Additionally, patients often present with hyperpigmented skin at the site of symptoms. Read More

Asian Spine J 2019 10 3;13(5):721-729. Epub 2019 Jun 3.

Department of Orthopedic and Spine Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Bilaspur, India.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Purpose: To verify the feasibility and safety of outpatient microscopic lumbar discectomy (MLD) in a developing country.

Overview Of Literature: Outpatient MLD is advantageous in terms of cost effectiveness and avoidance of nosocomial infections. Read More

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2019 4;97(1):31-36. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA,

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established therapy for chronic pain syndromes, with growing applicability to other conditions. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a widespread, chronic movement disorder managed primarily and incompletely by medication, and its etiology can be classified as idiopathic or secondary.

Methods: Three patients underwent SCS implantation for chronic back and/or leg pain with concomitant targeting of RLS: (1) a 34-year-old man with sporadic RLS symptoms that strongly intensified after military-related spinal fractures, (2) a 54-year-old man with RLS likely secondary to meralgia paresthetica, and (3) a 42-year-old man with low back and right lower extremity pain after a military motor vehicle accident. Read More

J Dermatolog Treat 2020 Jun 25;31(4):424-432. Epub 2019 Apr 25.

College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a sensory neuropathy of the back characterized by a well demarcated, hyperpigmented macule or patch located medial or inferior to the scapulae. Symptoms include localized pruritus and pain, and the clinical course consists of remissions and relapses. It can be an underrecognized and difficult disease to treat since conventional treatments for pruritus in inflammatory dermatosis have variable efficacy. Read More

J Spine Surg 2018 Sep;4(3):610-615

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.

Background: Surgical treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis (DS) always remains a challenge and often necessitates complex multilevel surgery via traditional open approaches. However, the severity of the procedure, in association with the fact that many of these patients are at an advanced age with several comorbidities, results in high rate of complications. Therefore, during the last decade, minimally invasive procedures have gained a place in the treatment of this pathology. Read More

Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2018 12;97(12):929-932

From the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal (CMdC); and Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department and Pain Treatment Unit, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal (FA).

Notalgia paresthetica is a rarely reported T2-T6 sensory neuropathy whose etiology and treatment are not fully established. Although it is believed to be common in dermatological practice, it remains underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and therefore underreported. This case-report provides a physical medicine and rehabilitation perspective on notalgia paresthetica diagnosis and treatment. Read More

Cutis 2018 Sep;102(3):185;186;189;190

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Jude Heritage Medical Group, Fullerton, California, USA.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a common, often refractory sensory neuropathic syndrome with the hallmark symptoms of localized pruritus and dysesthesia of the unilateral infrascapular region. Brachioradial pruritus (BRP) is similarly classified as a localized pruritus syndrome but of the upper extremities, typically one or both forearms. Notalgia paresthetica and BRP are both generally chronic, nonlethal, incurable conditions with intermittent remissions and exacerbation. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2018 09 17;57(9):e70-e71. Epub 2018 Jun 17.

Ankara Health Application and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Int J Dermatol 2018 08 6;57(8):e52. Epub 2018 May 6.

Department of Dermatology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Int J Dermatol 2018 Apr 15;57(4):388-392. Epub 2017 Dec 15.

Department of Dermatology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is an underdiagnosed condition that presents with unilateral pruritus medial to the scapula on the midback with or without an associated hyperpigmented or hypopigmented macule. There is a paucity of recent reviews on this chronic cutaneous neuropathy in peer-reviewed journals. Current theories propose the condition is likely multifactorial, including spinal entrapment and muscular compressive neuropathy. Read More

Cureus 2017 Sep 28;9(9):e1719. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego.

Notalgia paresthetica, a neurosensory syndrome that typically occurs on the upper back, has multiple clinical symptoms with variable degrees of expression in each individual afflicted with the condition. The involved site is usually hyperpigmented and is associated with burning, coldness, hypoesthesia, increased pain, pruritus and/or tingling. In the affected area, the number of nerve fibers may be increased and the cutaneous sensory nerves are altered secondary to localized impingement, central injury, or both. Read More

J Am Board Fam Med 2017 Nov-Dec;30(6):835-837

From the Department Family & Community Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (RL); Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ (LAS, DLS).

Notalgia paresthetica is a syndrome of unilateral, chronic pruritis that is associated with burning pain, paresthesia, numbness, and hyperesthesia localized to the medial and inferior scapula. The condition does not respond to anti-inflammatory drugs or traditional antipruritic agents and has variable responses to numerous other reported pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. Although the etiology is thought to be nerve impingement, neurologic and musculoskeletal causes are often not considered in the differential diagnosis. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2017 Nov 20;18:1225-1228. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

Department of Anesthesiology and Chronic Pain Management, University Hospital of Montreal (CHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada.

BACKGROUND Notalgia paresthetica is a neuropathic condition that manifests as a chronic itch in the thoraco-dorsal region. It is often resistant to treatment, and specific guidelines for its management are lacking. As such, we present a treatment approach with intravenous lidocaine infusions. Read More