The difficulties of a randomized study in superior vena caval obstruction.
BACKGROUND
Superior vena caval obstruction (SVCO) is a not uncommon complication of malignant disease. Treatment may consist of radiation (RT) to the mediastinum, systemic therapy for chemosensitive tumors, and supportive measures such as oxygen and steroids. Advances in interventional radiology have allowed the introduction of expandable stents into the superior vena cava (SVC), with the theoretical advantage of providing symptom relief within hours, rather than the days and weeks over which RT exerts its effect. Although small case series have supported the use of stents in SVCO, there are no randomized data.


METHODS
We set up a randomized study at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto. Patients were randomized to receive palliative RT to the mediastinum or immediate stenting of the SVC and then mediastinal RT within a week. The aim of the study was to compare symptom response between the two treatment arms. A second study, a prospective longitudinal study, was also set up to obtain information on symptom response and outcome regardless of the treatment given.


RESULTS
In a 12-month period, we were unable to accrue any patients in the randomized study; of the 19 patients approached, 13 have agreed to participate in the longitudinal study.


CONCLUSIONS
In this report, we present the problems that we have encountered with these studies.
Wilson
Paula
P
Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bezjak
Andrea
A
Asch
Murray
M
Barton
Rachael
R
Wong
Rebecca
R
Levin
Wilfred
W
Kane
Gabrielle
G
Kirkbride
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
D013256:Steroids