title: Superior vena caval obstruction: an analysis of seventy-six cases, with comments on the safety of venography.
abstract: Seventy-six cases of superior vena caval obstruction (SVCO) were documented in the period 1970-1980. There were 53 males and 23 females, with a mean age of 61.7 years. The underlying causes were:- Lung cancer, 64/76, 84.2%; Metastatic disease, 4/76, 5.3%; Lymphoma, 4/76, 5.3%; Benign aetiology, 2/76, 2.6%; Undiagnosed, 2/76, 2.6%; 97.4% of the cases were due to malignancy. Of 61 patients on whom follow-up is available, only one is alive. Eighty-two percent of this group died within one year following the onset of SVCO. Autopsies were performed on 17 patients. Nine of these (52.9%) showed invasion of the superior vena cava, 6 (35.3%) showed compression without invasion, and 2 (11.8%) showed neither compression nor invasion following Radiotherapy. Venography was performed on all patients with only one minor complication being recorded.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shevland
mesh_terms: D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010690:Phlebography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior