title: Response of superior vena cava syndrome to radiation therapy.
abstract: The treatment of a superior vena caval obstruction associated with a mediastinal mass is a true radiotherapeutic emergency. The heralding signs and symptoms and the morbidity of the syndrome justify beginning therapy before a pathologic diagnosis is established. In a series of 19 patients with superior vena cava syndrome, there was an excellent response to an initial high-dose course of irradiation, consisting of 400 rads midplane for 3 days, then reduced to conventional daily fractionation. It is concluded that rapid high-dose irradiation in the treatment of a superior vena cava syndrome is safe and effective.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D013577:Syndrome; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000528:radiation effects*