Purpose. Radiation therapy for oncologic emergencies is an important modality in the management of cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to review the roles of RT in oncologic emergencies based on literature review. Methods. The oncologic ...
Purpose. Radiation therapy for oncologic emergencies is an important modality in the management of cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to review the roles of RT in oncologic emergencies based on literature review. Methods. The oncologic emergencies requiring rapid treatment include superior vena cava syndrome, spinal cord compression, brain metastasis, and bone metastasis. We reviewed the literatures on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of oncologic emergencies. Results. In this literature review, radiation therapy among treatment modalities for oncologic emergencies has been shown to be fast and very effective treatment modality for oncologic emergencies. Conclusions. Based on this review, we conclude that the literature provides support for the role of radiation therapy in the situation of oncologic emergencies. As the number of cancer patients increase, the prevalence of oncologic emergencies will increase. In the future, the development of RT techniques will provide the improvement of not only patient's quality of life but also the survival.