Neuroimaging of neuropathic pain: review of current status and future directions

The goal of this review is to discuss the various imaging modalities to study neuropathic pain and its future implication in understanding pain network, for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is characterized by pain secondary to lesions or dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS) or the peripheral nervous system. Neuropathic pain is generally chronic and disabling, and responds poorly to conventional treatment. Although our understanding of the imaging changes in chronic pain state is evolving, we still face practical challenges in implementing these finding to objectively diagnose and follow treatment response in patients with chronic pain and to guide targeted and individualized treatment to each chronic pain condition.