Superior vena cava syndrome is the result of invasion or direct compression of the superior vena cava by tumor masses on the side of the right lung, lymph nodes and other mediastinal structures, or by thrombosis of the blood within the vein.
The cause is usually a neoplasm (lung cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), although it can be due to a blood clot, infections, other types of neoplasms, immune system disease and lymph node disease.
The most important symptoms are shortness of breath, cough, swelling of the face, neck, upper body or arms.
Diagnosis is made by a detailed medical history, thorough physical examination, blood and selected specimen (secretions) analysis, imaging tests and more aggressive procedures.
The goals of treatment are to alleviate the symptoms and to treat the underlying disease. The latter depends on each case, the type of neoplasm, the extent of the disease and the overall prognosis. Depending on each case the treatment will be medical and/or surgical.
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