Bowel Emergencies in Patients With Cancer.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Radiology

Background:

• Cancer is a leading global cause of death.
• Advances in cancer therapy increase patient survival, leading to more prevalent bowel emergencies.
• Oncological patients presenting acutely are often frail with comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the key imaging features of common bowel emergencies in cancer patients.
• To guide radiologists in identifying and managing these critical oncological conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings in oncological patients with acute bowel emergencies.
• Discussion of specific conditions including chemotherapy-related colitis, neutropenic enterocolitis/typhlitis, toxic megacolon, bowel perforation, malignant bowel obstruction, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of characteristic imaging appearances for each discussed bowel emergency.
• Emphasis on the radiologist's role in accurate diagnosis and influencing patient management.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing specific imaging patterns is crucial for diagnosing bowel emergencies in cancer patients.
• Radiological interpretation is vital for timely and effective patient care in oncological emergencies.