Management of Cancer-Related Pain
Patients and families struggling with cancer fear pain more than any other physical symptom. There are also significant barriers to optimal pain management in the emergency setting, including lack of…
Management of Acquired Bleeding Problems in Cancer Patients
Cancer patients can have acquired bleeding problems for many reasons. In this review, an approach to the evaluation and management of the bleeding patient is discussed. Specific issues including coagulation…
Radiation Therapy–Related Toxicity (Including Pneumonitis and Fibrosis)
In the modern age of cancer therapy, advances in the multidisciplinary management of cancer have resulted in increased rates of survivorship. Radiation therapy (RT) toxicity must be tempered with the…
Myeloproliferative Disorders and the Hyperviscosity Syndrome
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….
Renal Complications in Oncologic Patients
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
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…
Optimal Management of Malignant Epidural Spinal Cord Compression
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…
Electrolyte Complications of Malignancy
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….
Agents for the Treatment of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
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…
Cerebral Edema, Altered Mental Status, Seizures, Acute Stroke, Leptomeningeal Metastases, and Paraneoplastic Syndrome
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…
