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Research progress on brain structure and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cancer pain
LIU Yuqing  WEI Pu  TONG Jinming  MAO Jiaojiao  QIU Zhiqiang  XU Xiaoxue 

Cite this article as: LIU Y Q, WEI P, TONG J M, et al. Research progress on brain structure and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cancer pain[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025, 16(6): 150-157. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.06.023.


[Abstract] Cancer pain is a common and quality-of-life-impairing issue in cancer patients, characterized by complex pathological mechanisms involving multiple biological and psychosocial factors. Recent advancements in neuroimaging techniques have enabled deeper exploration of the effects of cancer pain on brain structure and function. Current studies indicate that cancer pain not only leads to alterations in pain processing, emotional regulation, and cognitive function but may also induce structural changes in specific brain regions, such as loss or abnormalities in gray and white matter. Although numerous studies have investigated cancer pain-related brain alterations, existing research often lacks a holistic perspective, with most focusing on specific cancer types or singular mechanisms. Additionally, inconsistent findings across studies hinder a unified understanding of the comprehensive mechanisms underlying brain changes associated with cancer pain. This review aims to systematically summarize neuroimaging research progress on structure and functional brain alterations in cancer pain patients, analyze similarities and discrepancies among studies, discuss clinical implications, and propose directions for future research.
[Keywords] cancer pain；magnetic resonance imaging；diffusion tensor imaging；functional magnetic resonance imaging；neuromodulation targets

LIU Yuqing   WEI Pu   TONG Jinming   MAO Jiaojiao   QIU Zhiqiang   XU Xiaoxue*  

Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, China

Corresponding author: XU X X, E-mail: nclittlesnownc@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-03-24
Accepted  2025-05-13
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.06.023
Cite this article as: LIU Y Q, WEI P, TONG J M, et al. Research progress on brain structure and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cancer pain[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025, 16(6): 150-157. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.06.023.

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