PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Philipp M Lepper
AU  - Sebastian R Ott
AU  - Hanno Hoppe
AU  - Christian Schumann
AU  - Uz Stammberger
AU  - Antonio Bugalho
AU  - Steffen Frese
AU  - Michael Schmücking
AU  - Norbert M Blumstein
AU  - Nicolas Diehm
AU  - Robert Bals
AU  - Jürg Hamacher
TI  - Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in Thoracic Malignancies
AID  - 10.4187/respcare.00947
DP  - 2011 May 01
TA  - Respiratory Care
PG  - 653--666
VI  - 56
IP  - 5
4099  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/56/5/653.short
4100  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/56/5/653.full
AB  - 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.