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Query: UMLS:C0019079 (hemoptysis)
 6,129 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have reviewed the role of radiation therapy in the palliative treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The use of radiation treatment results in effective palliation of chest symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and chest pain. In addition, the pain and suffering associated with skeletal and hepatic metastases are effectively alleviated by radiation therapy with minimal morbidity. Devastating neurologic complications can be avoided or alleviated in a great proportion of patients undergoing radiation therapy for cerebral metastases and spinal cord compression. Therefore, radiation therapy is a potent modality in relieving or reducing the suffering of patients with lung cancer. This is also a modality that has wide applicability; very few patients are not suitable candidates for that has wide applicability; very few patients are not suitable candidates for treatment regardless of their performance status. The aim of the treatments should always be prompt intervention using radiation therapy schedules that will minimize treatment time yet produce the desired results in a high proportion of patients. Protracted radiation schedules are not warranted in such patients except in special clinical situations. Palliation with radiation therapy is achieved quite promptly, with minimal side effects and a very small risk of any long-term consequences in patients who have a limited life expectancy.
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PMID:Palliative radiotherapy. 170 80

Several critical situations in patients with lung cancer are considered oncogenic emergencies. For example. massive hemoptysis, severe airway stenosis, retention of large amounts of pleural and pericardial effusion, and superior vena cava syndrome are situations requiring immediate care. For uncontrollable massive hemoptysis, embolization of the bronchial artery is a useful treatment method. For airway stenosis, rapid widening of the airway by endoscopic surgery is necessary. Since massive retention of pleural or pericardial effusion is life-threatening prompt drainage is required. For brain metastasis with increased intracranial pressure, decompression surgery is useful to prevent brain herniation. Spinal cord compression by epidural metastasis is considered to be an indication for emergency decompressive laminectomy in selected patients. Since the severity of emergent situations varies individually, the appropriate treatment should be determined based on the clinical condition of individual patients.
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PMID:[Oncogenic emergencies: appropriate treatment in lung cancer]. 1511 87

The intrathoracic growth of the tumor causes several severe symptoms as cough, dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis, hoarseness, anorexia/nausea, and dysphagia. In patients with manifest or threatening symptoms radiotherapy (RT) as an effective measure should be implemented into the management concept. Palliative RT radiotherapy prefers short hypofractionated schemas (e.g. 10 x 3 Gy, 4 x 5 Gy, 2 x 8 Gy, 1 x 10 Gy). Careful radiation planning supports the precision of palliative RT and reduces significantly the complication rate. A good response and prolonged palliation effects (6-12 months) can be achieved in many cases. However, the minimum biologically equivalent dose should not be less than 35 Gy. RT produces a good outcome in all types of metastases of lung carcinoma. In emergencies like VCSS or spinal cord compression RT should be initiated immediately. The selection of the optimal therapy for locally advanced lung carcinoma with malignant airway obstruction is difficult. Both brachytherapy and percutaneous irradiation are effective, however published results including local a sum of response, functionality and life quality demonstrates more benefit by percutaneous RT. Due to different physical properties of these two methods the combination of brachytherapy and external beam irradiation may be advantageous.
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PMID:Radiotherapy. 1995 3

Acute life-threatening conditions in oncology patients may develop either because of underlying malignancy or as a complication from treatment. Oncologic emergencies can be categorized as metabolic, hematologic, and structural conditions. Metabolic and hematologic emergencies are mainly diagnosed on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. Structural pathologic conditions that result in bleeding, mechanical compression, or obstruction to the hollow organs, such as the trachea and bowel loops, may first be suspected because of clinical findings, including decreasing hematocrit levels, difficulty in breathing, and abdominal pain; however, performance of imaging studies is critical for timely diagnosis and management. Life-threatening conditions of the central nervous system (such as cerebral herniation, carcinomatous meningitis, and spinal cord compression), thoracic emergent conditions (such as central airway obstruction, esophagorespiratory fistula, massive hemoptysis, pulmonary embolism, superior vena cava syndrome, and pericardial tamponade), and abdominopelvic emergencies (such as uncontrolled intraabdominal hemorrhage, bowel obstruction, intestinal perforation, bowel ischemia, intussusception, and urinary tract obstruction) can be definitively diagnosed on the basis of projectional or cross-sectional imaging findings in appropriate clinical scenarios. Select emergent conditions in cancer patients related to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, as well as iatrogenic emergencies secondary to either surgery or placement of central venous catheters, may also demonstrate characteristic findings at imaging studies. In addition, interventional procedures are of great help in the treatment of acute superior vena cava syndrome, massive hemoptysis, and uncontrolled intraabdominal hemorrhage. Radiologists should be aware of these select, "not to be missed" imaging findings of oncologic emergencies to make an accurate, timely diagnosis and provide appropriate patient care.
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PMID:Imaging of oncologic emergencies: what every radiologist should know. 2410 50

Lung cancer patients often experience potentially life-threatening medical urgencies and emergencies, which may be a direct or indirect result of the underlying malignancy. This pictorial review addresses the most common thoracic, neurological and musculoskeletal medical emergencies in lung cancer patients, including superior vena cava syndrome, pulmonary embolism, spontaneous pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, massive haemoptysis, central airway obstruction, oesophagorespiratory fistula, malignant spinal cord compression, carcinomatous meningitis, cerebral herniation and pathological fracture. Emphasis is placed on imaging findings, the role of different imaging techniques and a brief discussion of epidemiology, pathophysiology and therapeutic options. Since early diagnosis is important for adequate patient management and prognosis, radiologists have a crucial role in recognising and communicating these urgencies and emergencies.
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PMID:Imaging of urgencies and emergencies in the lung cancer patient. 2964 46

Patients with lung cancer are the type of cancer patient who are most often admitted to emergency departments due to disease-related complications. An oncologic emergency is defined as any acute event in a patient with cancer that develops directly or indirectly from the tumour and that threatens the patient's life. Oncologic emergencies are divided into metabolic, haematologic and structural emergencies. In this article, we address the main structural thoracic complications of patients with lung cancer, in which imaging tests play an essential role in their diagnosis. The main oncologic thoracic emergencies of lung cancer are airway obstruction, superior vena cava syndrome, acute pulmonary thromboembolism, pericardial tamponade, massive haemoptysis, spinal cord compression and pleural effusion. Oncologic emergencies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lung cancer. Emergency department physicians play a fundamental role in the early detection of these emergencies. The knowledge and correct identification of the main oncologic thoracic emergencies of patients with lung cancer therefore enable optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management.
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PMID:Oncologic thoracic emergencies of patients with lung cancer. 3026 51

This article reviews the most common oncologic emergencies encountered by the radiation oncologist, including malignant spinal cord compression, intramedullary spinal cord metastasis, superior vena cava syndrome, hemoptysis, and airway compromise caused by tumor. Important trials evaluating different treatments for these emergencies are reviewed. The role of corticosteroids, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy in these patients is discussed and patient-specific treatment guidelines are suggested.
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PMID:Radiation Oncology Emergencies. 3173 48