[Respiratory emergency]

The clinical features of respiratory emergency in the cancer patient are those related to pericardial effusion, superior vena caval syndrome, restrictive ventilatory disturbance, obstruction of airway, and functionally obstructive disease. They may be the result of the primary tumor, per se, or may occur during or after treatment of the malignancy. This section will briefly discuss the diagnosis and management of these respiratory emergencies in the cancer patient.