Superior vena cava syndrome svcs refers to the clinical syndrome with symptoms that results from this obstruction. Superior vena cava syndrome canadian cancer society. Superior vena cava svc syndrome occurs in approximately 15,000 people in the united states each year. Introduction superior vena cava syndrome svcs is obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava svc. Superior vena cava syndrome discharge care what you need. The superior vena cava is one of the primary veins within our bodies. Svcs is a medical emergency if associated with laryngeal.
Svcs most often develops insidiously over several weeks, allowing some mechanisma of compensation. It transports blood from our arms, chest, neck, and head to our hearts. An unusual complication is reported of a superior vena cava syndrome secondary to a mustard repair for transposition of the great vessels. Superior vena cava syndrome is caused by obstruction of the svc either by wall stenosis, extrinsic compression or internal thrombus. Blood from your upper body normally flows through the superior vena cava and into the right side of your heart. The syndrome was originally described as being secondary to an infection, such as tuberculosis, or a syphilitic aortic aneurysm 24. Feb 03, 2020 superior vena cava syndrome svcs develops when your superior vena cava is partially or fully blocked. Superior vena cava syndrome, phleboscanner, endoprosthesis, overload syndrome, central. Superior vena cava syndrome as a result of a venous obstruction, there is a rise in the intra venouspressure and collateral circulation often flows through the azygoud system. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Description superior vena cava syndrome is a partial occlusion of the. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a relatively common sequela of mediastinal malignancies and may cause significant patient distress.
Svc obstruction may result from the presence of a mass in the middle or anterior mediastinum generally to the right of midline, consisting of. Patients have a cough and dyspnea, particularly when supine, and they have swelling of the head and upper extremities as a result of venous compression. Malignancies are the main cause and are considered an oncologic emergency. The full text of this article is available in pdf format. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs occurs when a persons superior vena cava is partially blocked or compressed. Superior mediastinal syndrome, also called superior vena cava syndrome results from the presence of an anterior mediastinal mass that compresses the trachea and the superior vena cava. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs, is a group of symptoms caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava svc, a short, wide vessel carrying circulating blood into the heart. The central portion of the pericardial baffle underwent constrictive changes presumably due to bacterial infection of the baffle. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs includes various clinical signs and symptoms due to external compression or intrinsic obstruction of the svc itself or greater veins emptying into the svc or the superior cavoatrial junction, resulting in reduced blood flow. Endovascular stenting as the first step in the overall management of malignant superior vena cava syndrome. Superior vena cava syndrome in a patient with smallcell lung. Read about superior vena cava syndrome, a condition caused by tumors or cancer in the chest area, blood clots, or infection stds or tuberculosis.
The superior vena cava is a major vein in a persons body. Chronic upper extremity deep vein thrombosis uedvt and superior vena cava syndrome svcs are becoming increasingly common due to the use of indwelling catheters and implantable central venous. A patient with svcs requires immediate diagnostic evaluation and therapy. Currently, more than 90% of patients with superior vena cava syndrome have an associated malignancy as the cause. Volume 77, may 2006307 superior vena cava syndrome with a total dose of 180 mg of prednisolone for a week, the symptoms were not alleviated. Superior vena cava syndrome occurs when the svc is extrinsically compressed. Definition the superior vena cava is the major vein in the chest that carries blood from the upper part of the body in to the heart. Superior vena cava svc obstruction can occur from extrinsic compression, intrinsic stenosis, or thrombosis. Superior vena cava syndrome is a form of vessel obstruction that occurs as a result of mechanical compression or due to thrombosis. Superior vena cava syndrome in thoracic malignancies. Currently, svc syndrome is generally due to cancer or thrombotic events. Superior vena cava syndrome following complete correction. Double inferior vena cava genetic and rare diseases.
The photograph shows massive engorgement of collateral subcutaneous veins of the chest and abdomen in a 58year. Pdf on jan 30, 2009, maria del valle and others published superior vena cava syndrome find, read and cite all the research you need on. Superior vena cava syndrome statpearls ncbi bookshelf. Superior vena cava and the azygos system clinical anatomy svc obstruction oncology emergency duration. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava svc. The drawing below shows where the superior vena cava is located in the body. The most common symptoms of superior vena cava is shortness of breath. Endovascular treatment of superior vena cava syndrome. Tumour invasion is the cause in 6097% of cases 2, with bronchopulmonary cancers being the most common, followed by lymphomas and metastases. Request pdf superior vena cava syndrome superior vena cava svc syndrome is a historic entity that is reemerging as an important, albeit still uncommon, contemporary vascular disease. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a rare clinical phenomenon, characterized by svc obstruction, usually due to an underlyingmalignant cause, most commonlylung cancer,lymphomas, or mediastinal metastases from other malignancies.
Mar 09, 2017 double inferior vena cava is a vein abnormality that is present from birth congenital. Review of evolving etiologies, implications and treatment. Superior vena cava and the azygos system clinical anatomy svc obstruction. Superior vena cava syndrome an overview sciencedirect topics. Lung cancer is the most common cause of superior vena cava syndrome svcs and requires timely recognition and management. Individuals with this anomaly have two inferior vena cavas instead of one. Superior vena cava syndrome secondary to aortic disease. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is rare in childhood. Sep 19, 2016 superior vena cava syndrome is chiefly associated with malignancy. The inferior vena cava carries oxygenpoor blood from the lower parts of the body into the heart. A restriction of the blood flow occlusion through this vein can cause superior vena cava syndrome svcs. Superior vena cava syndrome definition of superior vena. The superior vena cava svc carries blood from the head arms and upper torso to the heart. Bilyeu, md approximately 15,000 cases of superior vena cava svc obstruction are diagnosed in the united states annually.
The superior vena cava is the large vein that carries blood from the head, neck, arms and chest to the heart. An intrathoracic malignancy is responsible for 60 to 85 percent of cases of superior vena cava syndrome svc syndrome, and svc obstruction is the presenting. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is mechanical obstruction of the superior vena cava svc due to venous thrombi or extrinsic compression by intrathoracic tumours in most cases. Pdf superior vena cava in a patient with superior vena.
When the etiology of superior vena cava syndrome is benign, it can be treated with clinical measures anticoagulation, raising the head, etc. Signs and symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction svco svco is caused by external pressure, thrombus or direct tumour invasion causing obstruction of the superior vena cava and occurs in 510% of patients with rightsided thoracic malignancy symptoms may be gradual or have an acute onset depending on how quickly a partial obstruction. Edema of the face and arms swollen collateral veins on the chest shortness of breath coughing difficulty swallowing headache. Diagnosis could be confirmed in 17 cases as one child succumbed to severe respiratory distress without a. Feb 29, 2016 superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a relatively common sequela of mediastinal malignancies and may cause significant patient distress. Thrombectomy, thrombosis, superior vena cava syndrome, superior vena cava obstruction doi. This contrasts with studies in the early 1950s in which a large proportion of cases were nonmalignant. Superior vena cava svc syndrome is a set of symptoms that result when blood flow through the superior vena cava the large blood vessel that returns blood from the upper body back to the heart is blocked. Treatment should also be individualized and should not be undertaken until a diagnosis is obtained. San francisco, california nalthough the superior vena cava syndrome is a well known clinical and radiologic entity, intrinsic diseaseof the aorta is usually not a prime etiologic con. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the svc syndrome are discussed. Radioanatomy of the superior vena cava syndrome and therapeutic. Symptoms include facial edema, dyspnea, cough, neck distension, hoarseness and dysphagia, while severe cases may present with coma and severe respiratory distress.
Svcs is a medical emergency if associated with laryngeal or cerebral edema. Superior vena cava syndromea proposed classification system. Mar 27, 2020 superior vena cava syndrome svcs is obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava svc. These include swelling of the face, arms, neck, and chest, distention of veins in the neck, and sometimes shortness of breath and a cough. In superior vena cava syndrome svcs, this vein has. The majority of cases are caused by malignant tumors within the mediastinum, most commonly lung cancer and nonhodgkins lymphoma, directly compressing or invading. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a group of symptoms that occur when there is pressure on the superior vena cava, or it is partially blocked and blood cant flow back to the heart normally. In superior vena cava syndrome svcs, this vein has become obstructed or compressed to some degree. It carries one third of the venous return to the heart. The syndrome is rarely an oncologic emergency in the absence of tracheal compression and airway compromise. The superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a rare pathological process caused by the superior vena cava obstruction. The superior vena cava syndrome svcs is defined as the set of signs and symptoms derived from superior vena cava obstruction, both intrinsic obstruction and extrinsic compression, which causes an increase in venous pressure in the upper. Superior vena cava svc syndrome is a collection of clinical signs and symptoms. Mar 17, 2015 superior vena cava syndrome svc syndrome slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
Sep 01, 2017 the superior vena cava is one of the primary veins within our bodies. The photograph shows massive engorgement of collateral subcutaneous veins of the chest and abdomen in a 58yearold man with partial obstruction of the superior vena. Superior vena cava syndrome superior vena cava obstruction. A reassessment of the clinical applications of the superior vena cava syndrome. Malignancies primarily lung cancer are the underlying cause of 8085% of cases, leaving 1520% caused by various benign conditions, including sclerosing. Diagnostic algorithm for superior vena cava obstruction svco.
Superior vena cava obstruction radiology reference article. Treatment depends on the etiology of the obstructive process. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a group of symptoms that can occur in people who have lung cancer, lymphoma, or other cancers that involve the center of the chest. It carries blood from the head, neck, upper chest, and arms to the heart. Superior vena cava syndrome, topics in thoracic surgery, paulo f. It is a medical emergency and most often manifests in patients with a malignant disease process within the thorax. Superior vena cava syndrome obstruction of the svc which carries blood back into the heart approximately 90% caused by cancer lung cancer is the most common 65% clinical features.