title: Endovascular stenting in malignant obstruction of superior vena cava.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is obstruction of blood flow through the SVC. It is a medical emergency and most often manifests in patients with a malignant disease process within the thorax. A patient with SVCS requires immediate diagnostic evaluation and therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 33-years-old woman presented with complaints of dyspnoea and chest pain. Computer tomography revealed a large mass in the anterior mediastinum. This mass compressed surrounding structures. Stenting was indicated for early symptoms of SVCS. The diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) was confirmed with biopsy. The patient's stage II HL has been subsequently treated with six cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (ABVD), followed by radiotherapy. Presently she is doing well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although lymphomas are a common cause of SVCS but almost always SVCS is caused by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). HL despite its common presentation with mediastinal lymphadenopathy rarely causes SVCS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphomas are a common cause of SVCS in young age. HL may present as SVCS. Pathological confirmation of diagnosis should be done before initiating therapy while dealing with a case of SVCS. SVC stenting is effective and has few complications in patients with SVCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Kollarova 2, 036 59 Martin, Slovakia. Electronic address: julian.hamzik@jfmed.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, National Centre of Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Kollarova 2, 036 59 Martin, Slovakia. Electronic address: durochudej@pobox.sk.
authors.forename: Juraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chudej
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Kollarova 2, 036 59 Martin, Slovakia. Electronic address: anton.dzian@centrum.sk.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dzian
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, National Centre of Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Kollarova 2, 036 59 Martin, Slovakia. Electronic address: juraj.sokol@me.com.
authors.forename: Juraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, National Centre of Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Kollarova 2, 036 59 Martin, Slovakia. Electronic address: kubisz@jfmed.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kubisz
keywords: Hodgkin lymphoma; Stent; Superior vena cava syndrome