Neurological complications

• Published in: Cancer imaging Vol. 9; no. Special Issue A; pp. S71 - S74
• Main Author: Law, Meng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England e-Med 02.10.2009
• Subjects: Brain Ischemia - diagnosis; Brain Ischemia - etiology; Central Nervous System Neoplasms - complications; Cerebral Hemorrhage - diagnosis; Cerebral Hemorrhage - etiology; Complications and Emergencies in Oncologic Patients; Encephalitis - diagnosis; Encephalitis - etiology; Humans; Hydrocephalus - diagnosis; Hydrocephalus - etiology; Intracranial Hypertension - diagnosis; Intracranial Hypertension - etiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System - diagnosis; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System - etiology; Spinal Cord Compression - diagnosis; Spinal Cord Compression - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord Compression - etiology; Spinal Cord Neoplasms - complications; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 1470-7330; 1740-5025; 1470-7330
• DOI: 10.1102/1470-7330.2009.9030

Patients with neurological malignancies are subject to developing a unique set of complications that require emergent evaluation and treatment. With the increasing incidence of cancer in the general population and improved survival, these emergencies will be more frequently encountered. Physicians must be able to recognize these conditions and institute appropriate therapy after a focused initial evaluation. The approach to definitive therapy is commonly multidisciplinary, involving surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and other medical specialists. Prompt interventions can be lifesaving and may spare patients considerable morbidity and pain. In neuro-oncology, there are some more specific complications and emergencies. The more general complications are not reviewed here.