Evaluation of risk factors for difficult-to-control pain (VAS score > 3) at two months after late-stage non-small cell lung cancer treatment with iodine-125 radioactive particle implantation combined with chemotherapy

Minimal pleural distance, smoking history, and pleural effusion are significant factors in predicting the difficulty of pain control in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation combined with chemotherapy at two months post-treatment. Patients with a minimal pleural distance of less than 10.84 millimeters are more likely to experience uncontrolled pain after treatment. Therefore, developing predictive models may assist clinicians in more accurately evaluating treatment efficacy and patients' pain management needs.