What is the superior vena cava syndrome?
Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a group of problems caused when blood flow through the superior vena cava (SVC) is slowed down. The SVC is a large vein that drains blood away from the head, neck, arms, and upper chest and into the heart. SVCS is most often seen in people who have cancer.
What causes SVC syndrome?
Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) happens when the superior vena cava is partially blocked or compressed. Cancer is usually the main cause of SVCS.
What is the most common physical finding in patients with superior vena cava syndrome?
Dyspnea is the most common symptom, observed in 63% of patients with SVCS. Other symptoms include facial swelling, head fullness, cough, arm swelling, chest pain, dysphagia, orthopnea, distorted vision, hoarseness, stridor, headache, nasal stuffiness, nausea, pleural effusions, and light-headedness.
What is the most common cause of superior vena cava obstruction syndrome?
The majority of cases are caused by malignant tumors within the mediastinum, most commonly lung cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, directly compressing or invading the SVC wall.
What does SVC syndrome feel like?
How is superior vena cava syndrome treated?
The main treatment for SVCS is to treat the cancer that is causing it with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, other things can be done to alleviate the symptoms. Your doctor might prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling or diuretics to remove excess fluid from your body by increasing urination.
Can you survive superior vena cava syndrome?
Survival in patients with SVCS depends mainly on the course of the underlying disease. No mortality, per se, results directly from mild venous congestion. In patients with benign SVCS, life expectancy is unchanged. If SVCS is secondary to a malignant process, patient survival correlates with tumor histology.
What is the treatment for superior vena cava syndrome?
Where is superior vena cava located?
The superior vena cava is located in the thorax (chest), more specifically, it is in the anterior (front) right, superior (above) mediastinum. The superior vena cava starts at the lower border of the first costal cartilage.
Can superior vena cava syndrome cause shortness of breath?
Superior vena cava syndrome is most often caused by compression of the vein (the superior vena cava), that returns blood from the upper body back to the right atrium of the heart by the tumor. Symptoms include swelling of the face and arms associated with shortness of breath.