Superior vena cava syndrome caused by encapsulated pleural effusion.
Pleural effusion is often a manifestation of the superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. However, pleural effusion has never been reported to be a cause of the SVC syndrome. We report the case of a 68 yr old male patient who presented with SVC syndrome and respiratory failure, both attributable to an encapsulated pleural effusion over the right upper mediastinum. Simple drainage was performed as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. The pleural effusion was confirmed to be a tuberculous empyema. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan is the most appropriate initial diagnostic procedure for superior vena cava syndrome.
Lai
C L
CL
Chest Dept, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Tsai
T T
TT
Ko
S C
SC
Yang
K Y
KY
Perng
R P
RP
Chen
Y M
YM
D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage; D004654:Empyema, Tuberculous / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed