Oncologic Emergencies Dr Karenza Alexis

Spinal Cord Compression

• Surgery
• Tissue diagnosis needed
• Spinal instability
• Prior radiation to affected area
• Progression of cord compression despite steroids and radiation

• Resection followed by radiation therapy vs radiation alone

• ASCO proceedings 2003: combine modality patients had higher ambulatory rate and retained ability to walk longer

Spinal Cord Compression

• In addition to initial evalutaion, imaging, steorids: multidisciplinary management

• Neurology Consult

• Oncology Consult

• Neurosurgery Consult

• Radiation oncology Consult

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

• Malignant causes

• intrathoracic malignancies (60-85%)
• Lung cancer (more common in small cell), breast cancer, testicular cancer, thymoma
• lymphoma and other malignancies with mets to mediastinum
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