title: Superior vena cava obstruction due to prostate carcinoma.
abstract: Superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) is considered an oncologic emergency commonly associated with lung carcinoma. The case presented here is that of a 48-year-old man presenting with SVCO, which was diagnosed as metastatic prostate carcinoma localized to the chest. He was treated with goserelin and aggressive radiotherapy with a drop in his prostate-specific antigen levels and symptomatic relief that lasted approximately 12 months. SVCO recurred locally in the chest and the patient died 24 months after diagnosis. This represents a rare presentation of prostate carcinoma and underlines the necessity for tissue diagnosis before local radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: McGarry
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen