oncological emergency
Cancer and its treatment may lead to a range of potentially life-threatening conditions that require urgent action to correct them.
Most oncological emergencies can be classified as metabolic, haematological, structural, or treatment-related
Febrile neutropenia is most often seen as an effect of cytotoxic therapy. The neutrophil count usually reaches its lowest level 5 to 10 days after the last dose of chemotherapy.
Febrile neutropenia is defined as an oral temperature ≥38.5°C or two consecutive readings of ≥38.0°C for two hours and an absolute neutrophil count ≤0.5 x 109/L.
Up to 80% of patients receiving chemotherapy for haematological malignancies will develop neutropenic fever at least once during the course of therapy. Patients with solid tumors are reported to develop neutropenic fever at a rate of 10-50% during the course of chemotherapy. The likelihood of fever increases with the duration and the severity of neutropenia as well as the rate of decline of the absolute neutrophil count
Cancer and its treatment may lead to a range of potentially life-threatening conditions that require urgent action to correct them.
Most oncological emergencies can be classified as metabolic, haematological, structural, or treatment-related
Febrile neutropenia is most often seen as an effect of cytotoxic therapy. The neutrophil count usually reaches its lowest level 5 to 10 days after the last dose of chemotherapy.
Febrile neutropenia is defined as an oral temperature ≥38.5°C or two consecutive readings of ≥38.0°C for two hours and an absolute neutrophil count ≤0.5 x 109/L.
Up to 80% of patients receiving chemotherapy for haematological malignancies will develop neutropenic fever at least once during the course of therapy. Patients with solid tumors are reported to develop neutropenic fever at a rate of 10-50% during the course of chemotherapy. The likelihood of fever increases with the duration and the severity of neutropenia as well as the rate of decline of the absolute neutrophil count
