OBJECTIVES:  ATLAS.ti software was designed for the qualitative analysis of textual, graphical, audio, and video data. Using ATLAS.ti, qualitative data can be systematically analyzed and the relevant data extracted.  It is used extensively in the analysis of data obtained in interviews and focus groups.  We explored its use in extracting, analyzing, and synthesizing literature from a large, focused review of pain relief.  METHODS: A comprehensive search of studies published between 1998-2008 was conducted in Embase.com  comparing outcomes and adverse events following different pain relief treatments across a range of therapeutic areas.  Relevant studies were imported into ATLAS.ti and were coded and analyzed.  On completion of each study review and data coding, ‘outputs’ for codes were extracted.  ‘Outputs’ contained all data related to a code and could consist of either singular codes such as ‘therapeutic area’ or combinations of codes such as ‘outcome’ and ‘superiority [of one drug against another]’.  Data were categorized according to emerging themes regarding outcomes and adverse events (AEs) associated with the pain relief treatments included in the review. RESULTS: Following a 2-stage screening process, 232 relevant, published studies were imported into ATLAS.ti for full review and coding.  Information on sample studied, therapeutic area, outcomes, AEs, and other trial data was coded.  ATLAS.ti enabled identification of the most common therapeutic areas where the target product had been studied:  rheumatology, acute pain, chronic pain and urology.  Further, specific comparisons between the target product and other pain relievers (COX-2s, NSAIDS, and opioids) on efficacy and AEs were possible by coding key results from the studies.  Versatile cross-comparisons were possible because of the detailed coding. CONCLUSIONS: ATLAS.ti can be a useful tool for extracting and synthesizing a large volume of literature.  It enabled development of new key product messages by allowing for emergent themes from a large, published literature.