ABSTRACT
The prevalence of cancer continues to grow globally every year. With therapeutic advances over the recent decades, the prevalence of individuals living with cancer continues to increase. Internal medicine residents can see patients admitted to the hospital for cancer-related emergencies. Early identification and appropriate management of these emergencies have been shown to improve mortality and morbidity. In this article, we aim to review the recent updates in the management of commonly encountered oncologic emergencies in the practice of internal medicine residents. This review will cover spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, tumor lysis syndrome, hypercalcemia, pericardial tamponade, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, bowel obstruction, increased intracranial pressure, leukostasis, hyperviscosity syndrome, neutropenic fever, and hypersensitivity reactions.
ABSTRACT
Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies, often detected at later stages as patients remain asymptomatic until later stages. Pernicious anemia (PA), a well-known cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, is a classic risk factor for gastric cancer. Patients with PA usually present with megaloblastic anemia and peripheral neuropathy; however, they can also present with nonspecific symptoms. We describe below the case of a 56-year-old male who presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Initial lab work revealed severe B12 deficiency, pancytopenia, and intramedullary hemolysis warranting endoscopy that revealed a gastric fundus mass significant for adenocarcinoma on biopsy.
