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Oncologic Emergencies

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Pediatric Hematology-Oncology in Countries with Limited Resources

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Abstract

Oncologic emergencies can threaten the lives of children with cancer even before a diagnosis is made. Awareness of common or life-threatening toxicities of cancer and cancer treatment facilitates rapid diagnosis and appropriate immediate management. Clinicians in both primary and tertiary care must recognize and manage five types of oncologic emergency: masses affecting vital organs (superior vena cava [SVC] syndrome, central airway compression [CAC] syndrome, cardiac tamponade, pleural effusion, spinal cord compression, and intracranial hypertension), metabolic emergencies (tumor lysis syndrome [TLS], hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, lactic acidosis, adrenal insufficiency), gastrointestinal emergencies (typhlitis, intestinal obstruction, bowel perforation), and chemotherapy extravasation. For new patients with suspected cancer, a careful history to elicit signs and symptoms, a physical examination, chemistry profile, complete blood count, and chest radiograph are sufficient to rule out an oncologic emergency. Any neurologic deficit, respiratory distress, altered vital signs, abdominal tenderness, abnormal laboratory values, or mediastinal mass on chest radiograph should prompt a thorough and immediate evaluation for life- and organ-threatening emergencies, which are the subject of this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health/Consultant Paediatric Oncology Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Inam Chitsike M.D., Ch.B., M.Med. Paeds

  2. Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Scott C. Howard M.D.

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  1. Inam Chitsike M.D., Ch.B., M.Med. Paeds
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  2. Scott C. Howard M.D.
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Correspondence to Scott C. Howard M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa

    Daniela Cristina Stefan

  2. Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo

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Chitsike, I., Howard, S.C. (2014). Oncologic Emergencies. In: Stefan, D., Rodriguez-Galindo, C. (eds) Pediatric Hematology-Oncology in Countries with Limited Resources. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3891-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3891-5_9

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