Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsSymptomsEmergenciesCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Symptoms
Emergencies
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Superiorvena cava(SVC) syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur when blood flow through the superior vena cava is partially or fully blocked. The superior vena cava is the large blood vessel that returns blood from the upper body back to the heart.
The symptoms include swelling of the face, arms, neck, and chest, distention of veins in the neck, and sometimes shortness of breath and a cough. The condition often affects people with lung cancer but may also have other causes.
This article discusses superior vena cava syndrome and its symptoms and treatment.
Troels Graugaard / Vetta / Getty Images
What Is Superior Vena Cava Syndrome?
SVC syndrome is a complication that occurs in 2% to 4% of people living withlung cancer. In some cases, it is the first sign that leads to the diagnosis.It is most common with tumors that grow near the top of the lungs, and because of the location of these tumors, they can easily be missed on a chest X-ray.
Superior vena cava syndrome happens when there is pressure on the superior vena cava or it is partially blocked. This causes reduced blood flow to the heart and increased pressure in the veins and face. The condition can also affect people with other types of cancer, blood clots, and infections.
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Symptoms
When It’s an Emergency
Superior vena cava syndrome may occur gradually, but in some situations, SVC syndrome can be life-threatening.
If the obstruction of the superior vena cava occurs rapidly, however, there may not be time for other blood vessels to accommodate the increased blood flow. When this happens it is considered acancer-related emergency.
What is the life expectancy of someone with superior vena cava syndrome?Most worrisome is lung-cancer-induced SVC syndrome which obstructs thetrachea(the airway that leads from the mouth and nose to the large bronchi in the lungs).Patients with untreated malignant SVCS only live for about one month.
What is the life expectancy of someone with superior vena cava syndrome?
Most worrisome is lung-cancer-induced SVC syndrome which obstructs thetrachea(the airway that leads from the mouth and nose to the large bronchi in the lungs).Patients with untreated malignant SVCS only live for about one month.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms noted above, it’s important to see your healthcare provider right away.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Obstruction of the Superior Vena Cava?
The spread of other tumors, such as breast cancer to lymph nodes in themediastinum(the area of the chest between the lungs) can also occur. Cancers such as testicular cancer, thymus cancer, and thyroid cancer may also lead to the syndrome.
Less common causes include blood clots within the SVC (often secondary to central intravenous lines or pacemaker wires), aortic aneurysms, or infections like tuberculosis or histoplasmosis.
Your physical examination may show obvious swelling if you have SVC syndrome.
Radiological studies such as a chest X-ray or CT scan may show a tumor or signs suggestive of SVC syndrome. Other tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, or venography (a test done using a dye to X-ray veins) may be recommended as well. If your healthcare provider suspects that cancer could be causing your symptoms, further tests to search for cancer would be needed.
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Treatment
To rapidly improve symptoms pending definitive treatment, management often includes keeping the head elevated, using corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and taking diuretics (“water pills”) to reduce swelling.
The long-term treatment of SVC syndrome depends on the cause.
If symptoms are due to a tumor pushing on the superior vena cava, methods to treat the tumor such aschemotherapy, targeted therapies, surgery, immunotherapy, orradiation therapyare often used.
With lymphomas, treatments such as monoclonal antibodies may be used. With SVC syndrome due to metastases, treatment usually involves treating the primary cancer.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, a stent may be surgically placed in the SVC to hold it open. Blood thinners may be used to prevent clotting.
Summary
People with SVC syndrome may have swelling of the face, arms, or chest and other symptoms like difficulty breathing or swallowing. When symptoms come on suddenly the condition is considered a medical emergency. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Drews RE, Rabkin DM.Malignancy-related superior vena cava syndrome. UpToDate.Seligson M.Superior vena cava syndrome. StatPearls.Cedars Sinai.Superior vena cava syndrome.Medscape.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS).National Cancer Institute.Cardiopulmonary syndromes (PDQ)–health professional version.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Drews RE, Rabkin DM.Malignancy-related superior vena cava syndrome. UpToDate.Seligson M.Superior vena cava syndrome. StatPearls.Cedars Sinai.Superior vena cava syndrome.Medscape.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS).National Cancer Institute.Cardiopulmonary syndromes (PDQ)–health professional version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Drews RE, Rabkin DM.Malignancy-related superior vena cava syndrome. UpToDate.Seligson M.Superior vena cava syndrome. StatPearls.Cedars Sinai.Superior vena cava syndrome.Medscape.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS).National Cancer Institute.Cardiopulmonary syndromes (PDQ)–health professional version.
Drews RE, Rabkin DM.Malignancy-related superior vena cava syndrome. UpToDate.
Seligson M.Superior vena cava syndrome. StatPearls.
Cedars Sinai.Superior vena cava syndrome.
Medscape.Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS).
National Cancer Institute.Cardiopulmonary syndromes (PDQ)–health professional version.
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