Malignant CNS Emergencies

A review

The lecture duration is 21min.

0.5 CPD Points, 0.5 CEUs, 0.5 CME credits approval pending.
Accredited by CPDUK, CBRN and Provider Pending.

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Jonathan Rowland
Emergency medicine physician, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
Lecture Summary

Basic emergency medicine critical actions are applicable and appropriate in the cancer population. Breast, Lung, and Melanoma are the most common tumors to metastasize to the brain while Breast, Lung, and Prostate are the most common to go to the spine. Dexamethasone is a common initial treatment of choice in cases of suspected spinal cord compression or elevated ICP from a brain metastasis. The imaging modality of choice is an MRI with and without contrast of brain and/or entire spine (or both, depending on the circumstances). Treatment of these patients requires a multidisciplinary team that includes their primary oncologist, neurology, neurosurgery, and radiation oncology. We must strive to treat cancer patients’ pain adequately and ease suffering as much as possible in these challenging cases.

Target Audience

Emergency Medicine Doctors
Emergency Medicine Nurses
Paramedics
Rural GP's

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to:

  • Recognize that basic emergency medicine critical actions also apply to cancer patients with emergent CNS pathology
  • To recognize dexamethasone as the initial treatment of choice in cases with suspected mass effect/edema
  • To review some multidisciplinary cancer treatment options in cases of CNS pathology

None.