title: Superior vena cava syndrome in thoracic malignancies.
abstract: The superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) comprises various symptoms due to occlusion of the SVC, which can be easily obstructed by pathological conditions (eg, lung cancer, due to the low internal venous pressure within rigid structures of the thorax [trachea, right bronchus, aorta]). The resulting increased venous pressure in the upper body may cause edema of the head, neck, and upper extremities, often associated with cyanosis, plethora, and distended subcutaneous vessels. Despite the often striking clinical presentation, SVCS itself is usually not a life-threatening condition. Currently, randomized controlled trials on many clinically important aspects of SVCS are lacking. This review gives an interdisciplinary overview of the pathophysiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of malignant SVCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany. philipp.lepper@gmx.de
authors.forename: Philipp M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lepper
authors.forename: Sebastian R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Hanno
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: Uz
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stammberger
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bugalho
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frese
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmücking
authors.forename: Norbert M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Blumstein
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diehm
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bals
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamacher
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology