Oncological Emergencies Dr. Gary Harding md, frcpc

Emergent to Urgent

• Prebiopsy radiation can obscure the diagnosis

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

Exception to new 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

Prognosis…

• Linked to tumor histology and stage at presentation

Treatment Sensitive Tumors

• NHLs, germ cells, and limited-stage small cell lung cancers usually respond to chemotherapy and or radiation

• Can achieve long term remission with tumor specific directed therapy

• Symptomatic improvement usually takes 1-2 weeks after start of therapy