Myeloproliferative disorders and the serum hyperviscosity syndrome can rapidly manifest with emergent presentations. Hyperviscosity occurs from pathologic elevations of either the cellular or acellular (protein) fractions of the circulating blood….
Acute renal failure (ARF) can be one of the many complications associated with malignancy and, unfortunately, often harbors a worse prognosis for the afflicted patient. Insult to the kidneys can…
Neutropenic enterocolitis, also known as typhlitis or ileocecal syndrome, is a rare, but important, complication of neutropenia associated with malignancy. It occurs as a result of chemotherapeutic damage to the…
Malignant epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is a common neurologic complication of cancer. MESCC is a medical emergency that needs rapid diagnosis and treatment to prevent undergo emergent evaluation including…
A thorough working knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities in cancer patients, especially hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, and hypercalcemia, is essential to the successful practice of emergency medicine….
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated adverse drug effect characterized by platelet activation, hypercoagulability, and increased risk of thrombosis, both venous and arterial. A diagnosis of HIT usually signifies that heparin…
Neurologic symptoms commonly occur in oncology patients, and in some cases they may be the presenting symptom of malignancy. Cancer-related neurologic syndromes are rarely pathognomonic and must be differentiated from…
Superior vena cava syndrome is a common complication of malignancy. The epidemiology, presentation, and diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with the syndrome are reviewed. Management options including chemotherapy and radiation…
Thrombosis is a common complication of cancer, occurring in up to 15% of patients. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of the most common cancer-related thrombotic problems; deep venous…
