Oncologic emergencies: Pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment

Mark A. Lewis, Andrea Wahner Hendrickson, Timothy J. Moynihan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

78 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oncologic emergencies can occur at any time during the course of a malignancy, from the presenting symptom to end-stage disease. Although some of these conditions are related to cancer therapy, they are by no means confined to the period of initial diagnosis and active treatment. In the setting of recurrent malignancy, these events can occur years after the surveillance of a cancer patient has been appropriately transferred from a medical oncologist to a primary care provider. As such, awareness of a patient's cancer history and its possible complications forms an important part of any clinician's knowledge base. Prompt identification of and intervention in these emergencies can prolong survival and improve quality of life, even in the setting of terminal illness. This article reviews hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, tumor lysis syndrome, cardiac tamponade, superior vena cava syndrome, neutropenic fever, spinal cord compression, increased intracranial pressure, seizures, hyperviscosity syndrome, leukostasis, and airway obstruction in patients with malignancies. Chemotherapeutic emergencies are also addressed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)287-314
Number of pages28
JournalCA Cancer Journal for Clinicians
Volume61
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology

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