Paresthesia is the term used to describe a sensation of tingling, numbness, or prickling in a region of the body without an apparent physical effect.
In some cases, the affected area may feel like it is being pricked or stung by needles. Numerous conditions can cause paresthesia, including diseases of the nervous, immune, and circulatory systems, infections, and diabetes.
In oncology, paresthesia can appear as a side effect of certain types of treatment, especially some chemotherapeutic agents, such as:
In some cases, reducing the dose of chemotherapy or the molecularly targeted drug may be sufficient for partial improvement of paresthesia. In other cases, temporary interruption of treatment may be necessary. Medications for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced paresthesia are still under study.
