Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in Emergency Medicine Clinical Presentation
- Author: Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP; Chief Editor: David FM Brown, MD more...
History
Early in the clinical course of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome (SVCS), few, if any, signs or symptoms may be observed. Typically, symptoms accelerate as the underlying malignancy increases in size and/or invasiveness. Dyspnea is the most common symptom, followed by trunk or extremity swelling. Other symptoms include the following:
- Facial swelling
- Cough
- Orthopnea
- Headache
- Nasal stuffiness
- Light-headedness
Physical
Physical examination often reveals facial or upper extremity edema. The degree of facial edema has been described as facial engorgement (as is seen in the image below).
Patient with a 4-week history of increasing facial edema and known lung cancer. The degree of jugular venous distention varies.
Other markers of lung malignancy, such as Horner syndrome, paralysis of the vocal cords, and paralysis of the phrenic nerve, are rarely present.
Causes
Today, the most common etiology of superior vena cava syndrome is related to malignancy.
Prior to modern antibiotics, infectious causes including syphilis, tuberculosis, and fungi occurred with almost equal frequency.
The most common cause of malignancy-related superior vena cava syndrome is bronchogenic carcinoma, which accounts for nearly 80% of cases.
Lymphoma accounts for approximately 15% of cases.
Other cases have various causes, including infectious and catheter-related etiologies. Increasingly, dialysis catheters and pacemaker leads are becoming associated with superior vena cava syndrome due to thrombosis.
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