Superior vena cava syndrome caused by invasive aspergillosis.
A 37-year-old man with blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia was admitted for chemotherapy. After treatment with an infusion of vincristine, he became leukopenic and febrile. Two episodes of gram-negative septicemia were treated with prolonged courses of antibiotics; however, fever persisted, and the patient developed the superior vena cava syndrome. Despite therapy with amphotericin B, the patient died. At autopsy a thrombus of Aspergillus was found completely occluding the superior vena cava.
D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014750:Vincristine