title: Oncological emergencies associated with gastrointestinal tumors.
abstract: Oncological emergencies are defined as acute life-threatening conditions in cancer patients either as a result of the malignancy or as a result of its treatment. In this review, we focus on oncological emergencies associated with gastrointestinal tumors. They can be categorized by their system of origin as hematologic, neurologic or metabolic. Furthermore, we discuss mechanical emergencies such as intestinal obstruction and vena cava superior syndrome as well as acute gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary embolism. The patients' performance status as well as prognosis are essential during decision making for optimal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels (Klaas Prenen), Belgium.
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prenen
authors.affiliation: Digestive Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven and Department of Oncology, KU Leuven (Hans Prenen), Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prenen
keywords: Emergency; digestive oncology; oncological emergency