Oncologic Emergencies

Muhammad Asim Rana

Department of Critical Care Services

King Saud Medical City

Case 1

• 77 yrs male

• PMHx of CAD s/p CABG, DM, bipolar disorder,

• 5 year history of CLL comes to ER with severe fatigue, nausea, mild abdominal discomfort.

• Pt admitted by heme/onco and started on oral hydroxyurea after diagnosis of acute blastic transformation.

• ICU physician was called by the oncologist to review the case as he was worried about jerky movements & the neuro status of the patient

…On Reviewing

• Patient was unconscious, jittery with a GCS of 10/15, vitals were borderline except HR…58

• potassium 6.3 mEq/L

• calcium 6.1 mg/dL

• phosphate 5.5 mg/dL

• lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 28,900 U/L

• uric acid 14.3 mg/dL

• Creatinine was normal, at 1.1 mg/dL

and this was the ECG

…..TUMOR LYSIS SYNDROME

Your Impression….?

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Pathophysiology

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Who gets it?

• High tumor cell proliferation rate, large tumor burden, tumor is chemosensitive

• ALL, AML, NHL, Burkitt’s Lymphoma, Small cell> Hodgkin’s disease, Multiple Myeloma,

• Solid Tumors ( breast, GI, prostate etc.)

• Signs and Symptoms are non-specific:– usually within 12 to 72hrs after starting

chemotherapy

NauseaVomitingDiarrheaAnorexiaSyncope

LethargyEdemaFluid overloadCrampsSudden death

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Who gets it?

• Usually develops after chemotherapy • paclitaxel,fludarabine,etoposide,thalidomide,hydroxyurea

• Can occur after – radiation therapy

– corticosteroids

– chemoembolization

– intrathecal chemotherapy

– rarely from spontaneous necrosis

• LDH is considered by some a measure of tumor load and a marker of TLS risk

Cairo-Bishop Definition

• In 2004, Cairo and Bishop defined a classification system for tumor lysis syndrome.

• Laboratory tumor lysis syndrome: abnormality in two or more of the following, occurring within three days before or seven days after chemotherapy.– uric acid > 8 mg/dL or 25% increase– potassium > 6 meq/L or 25% increase– phosphate > 4.5 mg/dL or 25% increase– calcium < 7 mg/dL or 25% decrease

• Clinical tumor lysis syndrome: laboratory tumor lysissyndrome plus one or more of the following:– increased serum creatinine (1.5 times upper limit of normal)– cardiac arrhythmia or sudden death– seizure

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Prevention &Management

• “The best management is prevention.”

• FLUIDS and HYDRATION:

– Aggressive hydration and diuresis

– Improve intravascular volume, renal blood flow, GFR (decrease [solute] in distal nephron/renal microcirculation)

– +/- diuretics (contraindicated in hypovolemiaand obstructed uropathy)

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Prevention & Management

• ALKALINIZATION OF URINE:

-Uric acid > 10x’s more soluble in pH of 7.0 compared to pH of 5.0

-Xanthine/hypoxanthine is also significantly more soluble in basic urine

- Historically used, but not based on EBM.

NOT RECOMMENDED

Complications of alkalinization outweighs benefits

(calcium phosphate precipitation, metabolic alkalosis)

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Prevention & Management

• ALLOPURINOL:– Competitive inhibitor of

xanthine oxidase which ↓ conversion of purinemetabolites to uric acid.

– Used prophylactically for TLS

-BUT

Option for pts with medium risk

Ineffective in reducing uric acid levels before chemoTx

Xanthine and hypoxanthine precipitateobstructive uropathy

reduces clearance of some chemoTx(azothiopurine & 6-mercaptopurine)

…Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Prevention & Management

RASBURICASE(recombinant urate oxidase)

-promotes catabolism of uric acid:Uric acid allantoin (10x more soluble

than uric acid)100 adult pt (w/ aggressive NHL) got 3

to 7 days of rasburicase beginning day 1 of chemo:

• Uric acid levels decreased within 4 hrs of rasburicase initiation

• Normal uric acid levels maintained throughout chemotherapy

• No increase in creatinine observed

• No patient required dialysis

Patient at risk

SerumUric Acid

Normal(<8mg%)

High(>8mg%)

Intravenous hydrationAllopurinol

?Rusburicase

Initiate therapy

Correct hyperkalemiaMaintain urine out put >100ml/hr

Consider CRRT if poor response

Follow labs Q8 hrsPO4, Ca+2,LDH,UA,BMP

Uric acid < 8mg% Uric acid> 8mg%Add

Rusburicase !!

……….

Review

Case2

• 64 y/o male w/o significant past medical history comes to ED w/ complaints of progressive LBP.

• He notes pain initially started approx 6-8 weeks ago w/o any inciting event.

• He is normally very active and enjoys jogging/biking ; currently still working as a chef.

• He went to local out patients two weeks ago and got routine lumbosacral films which were essentially normal. He was sent home w/ course of high dose NSAIDS.

• He comes to KSMC ER w/ complaints of persistent and progressive band like lower back pain.

• He notes new unsteadiness when he walks for the last two days, which prompted him to come to accidents & emergency

• In ED: vitals and labs were within normal limits

• Exam showed legs weakness 4/5

• Urgent MRI of spine showed metastatic disease diffusely noted with thecal sac impingement at level of L3-L4

• ICU physician requested PSA & it came 68 ng/mL

…SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION

Your Impression?

… Spinal Cord Compression

• Neoplastic epidural spinal cord compression

• Defined as thecalsac indentation radiographically(spinal cord or cauda equina)

• Thoracic spine: 60%

• Lumbar spine: 30%

• Cervical spine: 10%

… Spinal Cord Compression

• Cord compression is a common complication in oncology patients

– (5-10% of all cancer patients: prostate, lung, breast)

• … is a cause of pain and irreversible loss of neurologic function.

• Back pain is the precursor to spinal cord injury in almost all (96%)patients w/ spinal mets. Pain similar to disc disease: except ↑ pain supine, ↓upright

• NOT immediately life threatening unless it involves C3 or above

…Spinal Cord Compression: Epidemiology

• Vertebral mets are common than ESCC

• Prostate cancer: 90%

• Breast Cancer: 74%

• Lung Cancer: 45%

• Lymphoma: 29%

• Renal cell: 29%

• Gastro-: 25%

Posner, JB. Neurologic Complications of Cancer. FA Davis, Philadelphia, 1995

…Spinal Cord Compression: Epidemiology

• Many cases of unrecognized ESCC

• Difficult to define incidence

• Autopsy review studies suggest around 5% of cancer patients die with ESCC

Barron, KD, Hirano, A, Araki, S, Terry, RD. Experiences with metastatic neoplasms involving the spinal cord. Neurology 1959; 9:91.

…Spinal Cord Compression: Diagnosis

Back pain + known malignancy

= SCC until proven otherwise

– Plain films NOT enough

– Exam has poor accuracy with localizing level

– MRI without contrast is the best test for SCC when suspected

– Can do CT (myelography) if pt cannot tolerate MRI, or not candidate for MRI, or not available.

…Spinal Cord Compression: Treatment

• TREATMENT

– Steroids

– Radiation Therapy

– Surgery

…Spinal Cord Compression: Treatment

• Corticosteroids– Provides pain relief and are anti-inflammatory

– Dexamethasone:

– Loading 10mg-16mg; followed by 4mg q 4hrs.

– Higher doses (100mg) may be associated w/ slightly better outcome in exchange for higher incidence of adverse effects.

– Reserved for paraplegia/paraparesis generally. (low vs high dose studies = equivocal)

– Taper once definitive treatment is underway

…Spinal Cord Compression: Treatment

• Surgery---evolving science

– THEN: Previous studies: Laminectomy w/ or w/o RT vs

RT alone = NO difference in outcome

– Decompressive resection reserved for unstable spine, life threatening compression, unknown etiology, tumors that are not reliably radiosensitive or chemosensitive.

– NOW: Newer studies show surgical intervention + XRT show BETTER functional status than XRT alone

– (anterior approach, improvements in instrumentation)

Surgery + XRT vs. XRT alone

• Recent controlled trial comparing aggressive surgery followed by radiation vs. radiation alone

• Improvement in surgery+rads– Days remained ambulatory (126 vs. 35)

– Percent that regained ambulation after therapy (56% vs. 19%)

– Days remained continent (142 vs. 12)

– Less steroid dose, less narcotics

– Trend to increase survival

Patchell, R, Tibbs, PA, Regine, WF, et al. A randomized trial of direct decompressivesurgical resection in the treatment of spinal cord compression caused by metastasis (abstract). proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 2003; 22:1.

Surgery preserves ability to walk in patients presenting with cord compression versus radiation

Surgery + XRT vs. XRT alone

All outcomes better with surgery

Patchell et al, Lancet 2005; 366

…Spinal Cord Compression: Treatment

• Other Management issues

– Quickly involve

• Rad/oncology and Neurosurgeon / Ortho

– Analgesia: opioids, steroids

– Bed rest: controversial

– Anticoagulation: DVT prophylaxis

– Bowel regimen: because

• autonomic dysfunction, opioids, limited mobility all contribute to constipation

– Spinal bracing:

• only in patients with refractory pain

…Spinal Cord Compression: Treatment

• Best predictor is pre-treatment functional/neurologic status

– Rapid onset and quick progression = poor Prognosis

– 75% of patients treated correctly while still ambulatory, will remain ambulatory

– Only 10% of patients presenting with paraplegia will regain ambulatory status

Important to recognize

• Early recognition leads to better outcomes

• Efficacy of treatment depends most on patient’s neurological function at presentation

• Median time from symptoms to diagnosis is around 2 months

• More than half of patients who present to hospital are non-ambulatory

Husband, DJ. Malignant spinal cord compression: Prospective study of delays in referral and treatment. BMJ 1998; 317:18.

Important to recognize: Red Flags

Red Flag 1: Pain

Usually first symptom80-90% of the time

Usually precedes other neurologic symptoms by seven weeksIncreases in intensitySevere local back painAggravated by recumbencyDistension of venous plexusMay become radicular

Red Flag 2: Motor loss

Weakness: 60-85%At or above conus medularisExtensors of the upper extremitiesAbove the thoracic spineWeakness from corticospinal dysfunction affects flexors in the lower extremitiesPatients may be hyperreflexic below the lesion and have extensor plantars

Red Flag 3: Sensory loss

Less common than motor findings

Still present in majority of cases

Ascending numbness and parathesias

Red Flag 4: Bowel and Bladder function loss

Loss is late finding

Autonomic neuropathy presents usually as urinary retensionRarely sole finding

Pt with clinical suspicion of cord

compression

Neurological Examination

Normal Abnormal

Plain X- rays

Normal Abnormal MRI

Start

Steroids

No

compression

Cord

compression

Surgery

?

Surgery +/- post

op radio Rx

Chemosensitive

?

YesNo

Chemo +/-

radiations

Radiotherapy

Yes No

Follow Clinically

Review

Case 3

• 56 yrs male with past medical history of pulmonary embolism in 2005 when he was in the hospital for a traumatic femur fracture, no longer on coumadin.

• PMH: HTN

• Social history: Denies alcohol, but smoker with 60 pack year history (2 ppd x 30 yrs)

• Presented with facial swelling for 2 weeks and bilateral upper extremity swelling for the past week.

• Referred to ICU for

– Swollen face

– Decreased mentation

– Fear of upper airway obstruction

• When examined

– Edema of face, arms, neck and supraclavicularregion

– Collateral veins on the upper chest

– Hoarse voice

….SVC Syndrome: Signs & Symptoms

…Chest X-rays of the patient

…..SUPERIOR VENA CAVA SYNDROME

Your Impression….?

….SVC Syndrome: Eitiology

• Malignant tumors are cause of SVC syndrome in 78-85% of cases.

• Malignancy– Lung CA – caused by extrinsic

compression or intrinsic invasion• Greatest risk is with small cell lung

ca (up to 20% will develop SVC syndrome)

– Lymphoma – typically caused by compression by lymph nodes

– Thymoma, primary mediastianalgerm cell neoplasms

– Solid tumors with mediastinalnodal metastases

• Breast CA is the most common solid tumor.

….SVC Syndrome: Diagnosis

• 60% of pt’s with malignancy related SVC syndrome do not have a previous diagnosis of cancer

• Radiographic Studies – majority have abnormal chest x-rays – (mediastinal widening and pleural effusion)

• CT chest is preferred once the diagnosis is suspected– Helical CT chest with b/l upper extremity

contrast injection or upper extremity venography

• Histologic diagnosis

….SVC Syndrome: Treatment

• Historically SVC syndrome was considered a potentially life-threatening emergency

• Standard of care was immediate radiotherapy

• The emergent approach is not appropriate for most patients

….SVC Syndrome: TreatmentEmergent to urgent

• Symptomatic obstruction is usually a prolonged process

• Most patients are not in immediate danger at presentation & have time for a full diagnostic work up

• Prebiopsy radiation can obscure the diagnosis

• Current strategies aim at accurate diagnosis of underlying etiology before therapy

….SVC Syndrome: TreatmentException to the rule

• Stridor

– Central airway obstruction or laryngeal edema

• True medical emergency

• Immediate action needed

– Possible intubation and ICU admission

– Immediate therapy to target obstruction needed

….SVC Syndrome: Treatment

• Tumors with good response: Non Hodgekin’slymphomas, germ cell neoplasms and limited-stage small cell cancer (usually responsive to chemo with or without radiation). Symptoms improve in 1-2 weeks.

• Anticoagulation

• Intraluminal metal stents –– Used in cases where unable to give chemo or radiation

– Now some data showing that placing a stent better when patient first diagnosed because of quicker resolution of symptoms.

– Combination endovascular therapy (thrombolysis, angioplasty and stent placement)

Rowell, NP, Gleeson, FV. Steroids, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and stents for superior vena caval obstruction in carcinoma of the bronchus: a systematic review. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2002; 14:338.

…SVC Syndrome: before stent

… SVC Syndrome: After stent

… SVC Syndrome: After stent

SVC syndrome

CT or MRI evidence of intrathoracic mass

Central venous catheter

Known cancer diagnosis?

Obtain tissue biopsy

Chemo sensitive ?

Highly sensitive

Not highly sensitive

Chemo +/-XRT

XRT +/-STENT

Evidence of thrombosis?

Begin anticoagulation

SVC Fibrosis?

Dilatation /stent

Other causes of swelling

YesNo

Yes

Yes No

No Yes No

Review

Case 4

• 45 yrs male Hx of AML s/p stem cell transplant several months prior.

• Came to ER for scheduled and routine RBC transfusion.

• He was also receiving outpatient chemo therapy via PICC line

• Pt complaint of fatigue and constipation. • ER nurses noted temp of 36.1 C, BP= 82/58, +

orthostasis. • He was given 1L of NS and had routine labs drawn

as he wass transferred to observation. • He was referred to ICU for “hypotension.”

• Upon admission to floor he denied any other complaints, and said he had been compliant with Rx.

• Additionally he had been taking tylenol for 3 days hx of headache and 2 weeks of bisacodyl suppositories

• His admission vitals : 34.5C, 90/40, 102, 26, 97% on room air but was vigorously shivering when ICU physician arrived

• WBC = 0.2 , ANC= 0.06

…..NEUTROPENIC FEVER/SEPSIS

Your Impression….?

…Neutropenic Sepsis: Definitions

• Neutropenia:– ANC < 500 or <1000 w/ a predicted nadir of <500

cells

– ANC = (WBC) x (% of neutrophils + % of bands)

– Nadir usually occurs 5 to 10 days after last chemo dose and usually recovers in 5 days

– (certain leukemia/lymphoma regimens cause longer lasting and more profound neutropenia)

• Fever:

- Single temp of 38.3oC (101.3oF)

- Sustained Temp of 38.0oC (100.4oF) for > 1 hour

…Neutropenic Sepsis: Diagnosis

• Fever is commonly the only symptom. Common infections present atypically (asymptomatic UTIs, meningitis w/o nuchalrigidity, bacteremia with only fatigue as a symptom)

• Avoid digital rectal exams/manipulations• Careful oral exam and exam of catheter

sites if any• Pan Cultures

…Neutropenic Sepsis: Eitiology

• BACTERIA:– Until 1980s, GNR (P.aeruginosa) were the most

commonly identified pathogens– 1995-2000, Gram + organisms = 62-76% of all

bloodstream infections– Trend toward Gram + due to introduction of long-term

indwelling lines (Hickmans,Mediports)• FUNGAL:

- Risk increases w/ duration and severity of neutropenia, prolonged antibiotic use, and number of chemotherapy cycles-Candida (lines), aspergillus(immunocompromised, skin,sinus) >>>histo, blasto, coccidio,

TB(prolonged steroids, other high risk patients)

...Neutropenic Sepsis: High risk patients

• Already in-patients when fever and neutropenia develop

• Outpatients who need acute hospital care for problems in addition to the fever and neutropenia

• Outpatients with uncontrolled cancer

(e.g. acute leukaemia not in remission, those with tumoursprogressing during anticancer therapy)

• On immunosuppressive agents e.g. cyclosporin A, steroids

• Patients with specific foci of infection e.g. intravascular catheter infection, tunnel infection, new pulmonary infiltrate

• Neutropenia likely to last for more than 10 days

• Recent fludarabine treatment

• Phase I or II clinical trial patients (inform investigator)

...Neutropenic Sepsis: High risk patients

Presence of any of the following features;– abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea

– neurological or mental changes

– allogeneic BMTs or autologous BMT

– pregnancy

– HIV

– recent treatment with antibiotics (in previous 72 hours)

– renal failure (creatinine clearance <30ml/min)

– hepatic failure

– respiratory insufficiency

– haemodynamic instability

– inability to take oral medications

…Neutropenic Sepsis: Who to treat

• All febrile patients with neutrophil counts <500/mm3 and those whose counts are <1000/mm3 but are falling rapidly.

• Afebrile patients with neutrophil counts <500/mm3 should also be treated if they have symptoms compatible with infection.

…Neutropenic Sepsis: TREATMENT

• Numerous regimens studied: – monotherapy found equivalent to two drug regimens – (i.e.: piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, meropenem)

• In critically ill, add one aminoglycoside– (better G -ve coverage)

• Addition of Gram (+) as initial empiric coverage– In patients with lines and catheters

– in patients without port/catheter/line or mucositis has no proven clinical benefit instead can↑VRE

• Vancomycin or Linezolid :

-Clinical deterioration-Hypotension-Mucositis

-Skin or catheter infection-Hx of MRSA colonization-recent quinolone proph

…Neutropenic Sepsis: TREATMENT

• Fungal coverage (candida or aspergillus ssp. ):

– Routinely added after 5-7 days of persistent neutropenic fever w/o clear source

– Post mortem of fatalities after prolonged febrile neutropenia (1966-1975)

• 69% had evidence of systemic fungal disease

– Rx with liposomal amphotericin B (most common),

voriconazole(? failed noninferiority trial?),

caspofungin (passed noninferiority trial, less nephrotoxicaspergillus failure?)

– No to fluconazole = ↓ efficacy

…Neutropenic Sepsis: TREATMENT

• Colony Stimulating Factors (GM-CSF):– NOT routinely used for neutropenic fever

unless the patient had previous bout of neutropenic fever with prior chemo cycle.

– Not shown to decrease mortality

– Beneficial effects are quite modest

– Used in neutropenic septic shock/severe sepsis (hypotension, organ dysfunction)

– Used in patients whose bone marrow recovery is expected to be especially prolonged.

Case 5

• 55 yrs male with PMH of HTN on Rx came to A&E complaining of 2 week history of constipation, recently started having nausea and vomiting.

• No surgical history

• Social History: Denied alcohol, but 50 pack year history of smoking

• ROS: weight loss, polyuria, polydypsia, chronic cough

On examination

• T: 98.9F BP: 150/90 HR:55 RR:14

• General: NAD, thin appearing

• CVS: bradycardic, no murmurs

• Lungs: clear bilaterally, a few crepts Lt mid zone

• Abdomen: soft, normal Bowel Sounds

• CNS: AAOx3, no significant weakness, hyper reflexia +ve

…You would ask Labs & Radiology

• Sodium – 130

• Potassium – 4.6

• Chloride – 100

• Bicarb – 25

• Creatinine – 1.0mg%

• Glucose – 80mg%

• Calcium – 16.5 mg%

…..HYPERCALCEMIA

Your Impression….?

…Hypercalcemia : approach to patients

• When initially discovering patients with hypercalcemia first have to rule out malignancy and PTH

• Occurs in 10-20% of cancer patients

• Most common cancers include lung, breast and hematologic malignancies.

...Hypercalcemia: Signs & Symptoms

• Acute hypercalcemia: – nausea, vomiting, constipation, polyuria, polyd

ipsia,Nephrogenic DI, muscle weakness, arrythmias, short QT, AKI.

• Chronic hypercalcemia: – kidney stones, bone pain, & psychosis.

• Can also decrease consciouness to coma if hypercalcemia is very severe

• “stones, bones, groans and psychiatric overtones”

Heath, H 3d. Clinical spectrum of primary hyperparathyroidism: Evolution with changes in medical practice and technology. J Bone Miner Res 1991; 6(Suppl 2):S63.

…Hypercalcemia: Pathogenesis

• Osteolytic metastases with local cytokine release• Tumor necrosis factor & Interleukin-1

• Stimulate osteoclast precursor → mature osteoclasts

• Leading to more bone breakdown and release of calcium

• Tumor secretion of PTHrP (parathyroid hormone-related protein)

• Common in patients with non-metastatic tumors

• Called humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

• PTHrP binds to same receptor as PTH and stimulates adeynylate cyclase activity

– Increased bone resorption

– Increases kidney Ca reabsorption and PO4 excretion

• Tumor production of calcitriol

Corrected calcium >10.3 mg/dL

OR ionized calcium>5.2 mg/dL

HYPERPARATHYROID STATE:

a) Primary hyperparathyroidism (85%

adenomas, 14% hyperplasia, 1%

carcinoma)-24 hr urine calcium >200 mg

b) Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia- 24 hr

urine calcium < 200 mg

c) Tertiary hyperparathyroidism (After renal

transplantation)

d) Lithium use

PTH elevated or inappropriately normal

PTH-independent mechanism;

consider checking Vitamin D levels

PTH appropriately decreased

Not elevated

PTH-RELATED PEPTIDE:

a) Humoral hypercalcemia of

malignancy

(elevated PTHrP)

BONE RESORPTION:

a) Osteolytic malignancy

b) Paget’s disease

c) Immobilization

d) Hyperthyroidism

e) Adrenal insufficiency

DECREASED Ca EXCRETION

a) Volume depletion

b) Thiazide diuretics

c) Milk-Alkali syndrome

Abnormally elevated

Excess 25-OHVit D intoxication

Excess 1,25-OHGranulomatous

disease

Lymphoma

Calcitriol overdose

Acromegaly

…Hypercalcemia: Diagnosis

…Hypercalcemia: Treatment

• Lower serum calcium concentration

• Treat complications if present

• Treat underlying disease

Volume Replacement

Inhibition of

Bone

resorptionCRRT

Rx

underlying

disease

…Hypercalcemia : Treatment

• Three therapies for inhibition of bone resorption

• Calcitonin

• Bisphosphonates

• Gallium nitrate

• Historical therapy

– Antitumor antibiotic plicamycin (mithramycin)

• Multiple serious side effects

• No longer manufactured

…Hypercalcemia: Treatment

• Salmon Calcitonin

– Increases renal excretion of calcium

– Decreases bone reabsorption by interfering with osteoclast maturation

– Weak agent

– Works the fastest

• Bisphosphonates

– Adsorb to the surface of bone hyroxyapatite

– Interfere with osteoclast

– Cytotoxic to osteoclasts

– Inhibit Ca release from bone

– Three commonly used• Pamidronate

• Zoledronic acid

• Etidronate (1st generation, weaker)

…Oncologic Emergencies

• 4 Major types

– Metabolic emergencies– (↑calcemia, ↓natremia, ↓glycemia, adrenal failure, lactic acidosis)

– Hematologic emergencies– (hyperleukocytosis, DIC, thrombosis )

– Infectious / Inflammatory emergencies– (typhlitis, pancreatitis, chemo infiltration, hemorrhagic cystitis )

– Mechanical emergencies– (↑ICP, status epilepticus, cardiac tamponade, SVC syndrome)

…Oncologic Emergencies: Urgency Approach

• Right Now This Minute– Airway obstruction, neutropenic sepsis, tamponade,

cord compression, CNS metastases with symptoms

• Today– coagulopathies, tumor lysis, DIC, leukostasis, TTP,

hyperviscosity, severe thrombocytopenia, sickle cell complications, INR over 9

• If Not Today, Tomorrow– SVC syndrome, most hypercalcemia, most CNS mets

without edema, INR 5-9

…Oncologic Emergencies: What you always need to know

• Decision Maker: Patient/Relative

• Tissue diagnosis: presumptive/bx proven

• The time course of the decompensation

• Disease status beyond involved site

ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING THE FELLOW!

Thank you for your patience