Abstract Cancer patients are at risk for several life threatening emergencies, including metabolic, cardiologic, neurologic, and infectious events. These oncologic emergencies can occur at any time during the course of a malignancy, from the presenting symptom to endstage disease and may require an admission into the intensive care unit (ICU) at any time. Knowledge of such emergencies is critical to the understanding of these emergent syndromes in oncology patients. Each of these disease states requires careful evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, monitoring parameters for conditions and supportive care measures and interventions. Many of these high risk situations can be prevented and managed effectively if promptly recognized and timely treated. This review addresses the more commonly encountered emergencies and possible management in cancer patients.
Key words: Hypercalcemia; SIADH; Superior Vena Cava; Leukostasis; Tumor Lysis; Intracranial Pressure.