Pleural transudate: pathophysiology during superior vena cava syndrome

Askin Tumor Presenting as Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Superior vena cava syndrome.

Approximately 15,000 cases of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction are diagnosed in the United States annually. Malignancies (primarily lung cancer) are the underlying cause of 80-85% of cases, leaving 15-20% caused by various benign conditions, including sclerosing mediastinitis (the diagnosis in our case). Thrombolytic therapy and major advances in vascular techniques in recent years have imp...

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

1.1 Anatomy The superior vena cava (SVC) originates in the chest, behind the first right sternocostal articulation, from the confluence of two main collector vessels: the right and left brachiocephalic veins which receive the ipsilateral internal jugular and subclavian veins. It is located in the anterior mediastinum, on the right side. The internal jugular vein collects the blood from head and...

[Superior vena cava syndrome].

Superior vena cava syndrome is a common complication of malignancy. The epidemiology, presentation, and diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with the syndrome are reviewed. Management options including chemotherapy and radiation therapy and the role of endovascular stents are discussed along with the evidence for each of the therapeutic options.

Superior vena cava syndrome caused by encapsulated pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion is often a manifestation of the superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. However, pleural effusion has never been reported to be a cause of the SVC syndrome. We report the case of a 68 yr old male patient who presented with SVC syndrome and respiratory failure, both attributable to an encapsulated pleural effusion over the right upper mediastinum. Simple drainage was performed as a d...