title: A conventional multimodality imaging cascade to detect a superior vena cava obstruction.
abstract: Iatrogenic injuries of the superior vena cava (SVC) following surgical or endovascular treatments are rare but challenging complications and require prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The additional diagnostic value of venography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging has been widely assessed in the clinical setting of the SVC obstruction, whereas the role of conventional transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is still uncertain. A 43-year-old female patient was admitted to the echocardiography laboratory because of a superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) following a balloon SVC venoplasty with stent implantation. A standard transoesophageal echocardiography examination clearly detected the SVC obstruction on previously implanted stents. We found that fundamental steps of early diagnosis of SVCS would benefit from standard TEE.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. grimaldi.antonio@hsr.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cammalleri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrarello
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Canna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D019233:Retreatment / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015607:Stents; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods