Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) disorders are clonal diseases that often carry stereotypic chromosomal abnormalities. A smaller proportion of cases harbor point mutations that activate oncogenes or inactivate tumor suppressor genes. New…
The incidence of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the United States is reported as 3.4 per 100,000 people, translating to over 10,000 new diagnoses annually. This figure is considered to…
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…
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…
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 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….
