Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS)

The LANSS is a brief seven-item hybrid screening and diagnostic tool designed to differentiate neuropathic pain from non-neuropathic (nociceptive) pain. Developed by Mark Bennett at the University of Leeds in 2001, it combines five patient-reported symptom items with two clinician-performed neurological examination findings. With a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 80%, LANSS is among the most accurate tools for identifying whether a patient's pain has a neuropathic component, making it invaluable in clinical practice and research settings where pain etiology classification is essential.