Immune checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal antibodies allow the host's immune system to attack tumors, which has revolutionized cancer care over the last decade. As the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has expanded, so have autoimmune-like complications known as immune-related adverse events. These include the infrequent but increasingly more common, potentially deadly neurological immune related adverse events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncidental venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in cancer patients and identifying factors associated with these events can improve the management plan. We studied the characteristics of concomitant deep vein thrombosis (C-DVT) in cancer patients presenting with unsuspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and the association of C-DVT with VTE recurrence and survival outcomes. Patients presenting to our emergency department with confirmed unsuspected/incidental PE between 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2016, were identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Central venous catheters raise the risk of catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) in patients with cancer, typically affecting the upper extremity. Management of CRT involves catheter removal and anticoagulation. However, robust evidence is lacking on the optimal timing of anticoagulation relative to catheter removal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open
December 2020
Rapid advances in cancer immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors have led to significantly improved survival. Rapid identification of the toxicity syndromes associated with these therapeutic agents is very important for emergency physicians because the population of patients diagnosed with cancer is increasing and cancer therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors have become the first-line treatment for more and more types of cancer. The emergency medicine literature lags behind rapid advances in oncology, and oncology guidelines for rapid recognition and management of these emerging toxicity syndromes are not familiar to emergency physicians.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncidental pulmonary embolisms (IPEs) are common in cancer patients. Examining the characteristics and outcomes of IPEs in cancer patients can help to ensure proper management, promoting better outcomes. To determine the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of IPEs for cancer patients, we conducted a 1:2 ratio case-control study and identified all consecutive patients with IPE who visited the emergency department at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2016.
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