Most of the cases with
superior vena cava syndrome are listed in the literature based on benign and malign origins.
Asymptomatic patients who present with tracheal stenosis of more than 50% of the residual cross area, or present with a pericardial effusion, or patients who are in favor of
superior vena cava syndrome are at high risk of intraoperative airway problems.
Teitelbaum, "Cloudy dialysate as a presenting feature of
superior vena cava syndrome," Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, vol.
Light, "The
superior vena cava syndrome: clinical characteristics and evolving etiology," Medicine, vol.
Structural emergencies include
superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS), epidural spinal cord compression, and malignant pericardial effusion.
Superior vena cava syndrome. Indian J Pediatr 2002; 69: 293-7.
Venous stenting as treatment for pacemaker-induced
superior vena cava syndrome. Am Heart J 1995; 129: 836-7.
Described complications of SVGA in the literature include ischemia from stenosis or localized compression of a coronary artery aneurysm rupture with subsequent hemothorax or cardiac tamponade, fistula formation to adjacent cardiac tissues such as the right ventricle, mycotic aneurysm, and
superior vena cava syndrome. (2,4) There is a significant in-hospital mortality associated with SVGA rupture.
There are 2 cases reported in the literature presenting with
superior vena cava syndrome secondary to metastatic RCC.[sup.4,5] Another case of internal jugular vein thrombosis due to RCC was also reported.[sup.6] However, to our knowledge there has been no reported case so far with isolated subclavian vein thrombosis secondary to RCC.
Truly critical results in surgical pathology might include tumor in a patient known to have
superior vena cava syndrome, or fat in endometrial curettings.
Pulmonary artery aneurysm accounted for 7%,
superior vena cava syndrome 5%, and Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to hepatic vein stenosis 3.8%, with lesser numbers of aortic and carotid artery aneurysms and inferior vena cava involvement.