How is SVC syndrome treated?
How is superior vena cava syndrome treated?
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Thrombolysis (breaking up blood clots).
- Stent placement.
- Medicines to ease symptoms.
How do you manage SVC obstruction?
Drugs called anti-coagulants, such as heparin and warfarin, can be used to treat SVCO caused by blood clots. If the blood clot is around a central line, it may be necessary to remove the line. In this situation, your doctors will discuss other cancer treatment options with you.
Why is SVC syndrome an emergency?
SVC syndrome happens when blood flow through the superior vena cava is blocked. SVC syndrome is an oncologic emergency, which is a serious health problem caused by the cancer itself or its treatment. Oncologic emergencies need to be treated right away.
How is SVC syndrome diagnosed?
The following tests will help your doctor diagnose SVCS.
- X-rays of your chest or the vein. X-rays of a vein use dye to help the vein show up clearly.
- CT scan, also called computed tomography.
- MRI, also called magnetic resonance imaging.
- Ultrasound.
How common is SVC syndrome?
Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome occurs in approximately 15,000 people in the United States each year (1). The syndrome was originally described as being secondary to an infection, such as tuberculosis, or a syphilitic aortic aneurysm (2–4).
What is SVC syndrome?
Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is when something — usually a cancerous tumor — blocks or pinches the superior vena cava, a major vein that carries blood from your chest, neck, and head to your heart.
Does SVC syndrome affect blood pressure?
Symptoms occur when the inferior vena cava (the smaller of the two veins that transport deoxygenated blood back to the heart) gets compressed by pressure from the fetus and the enlarged uterus. A pregnant woman may experience lightheadedness and low blood pressure when lying directly on her back.
Is persistent left superior vena cava serious?
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) may lead to significant clinical symptoms and may affect surgical management. PLSVC may accompany various congenital cardiac diseases as well as heterotaxy spectrum.
How common is left-sided SVC?
A left-sided SVC is seen in 0.3-0.5% of the normal population and in ~5% of those with congenital heart disease 3. It is only seen in isolation in 10% of cases since the vast majority are accompanied by a normal right-sided SVC, termed SVC duplication.
What happens to left SVC?
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare vascular anomaly that begins at the junction of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins, passes through the left side of the mediastinum adjacent to the arcus aorta. It mostly drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus (CS).
What is superior mediastinal syndrome (SMS)?
Superior mediastinal syndrome (SMS) is the term used when SVCS coexists with obstruction of trachea. In children, a mediastinal pathology causing SVCS generally results in SMS as well, du …
What is superior vena cava (SVCs)?
The superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a collection of clinical signs and symptoms occurring when the superior vena cava is partly or completely blocked. This entity is reported to develop in only 2% to 4% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
What is primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma?
Primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma is an unusual and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can present with superior vena cava syndrome. We report the case of a Caucasian 21-year-old female, who presented with acute superior vena cava syndrome, having started 2 weeks before.
Is thrombosis a symptom of SVC syndrome?
• THROMBOSIS AS A MECHANISM OF SVC OBSTRUCTION Autopsy studies have revealed that 30% to 50% of patients with SVC syndrome have evi- dence of thrombosis. Therefore, if a patient does not rapidly improve after antineoplastic treatment is started (see below), a blood clot should be suspected as a possible reason for failure of the therapy.