SVC obstruction
| Headline | |
|---|---|
| Etiology | Lung cancer, lymphoma most common causes. |
| Epidemiology | |
| Clinical presentation | distended JVP + chest veins, localised face/upper arm oedema. ± Horner's syndrome. Ddx: cardiac tamponade |
| Pathogenesis | recruitment of collateral circulation esp azygos circulation. Often not immediately life-threatening. |
| Diagnostic investigations | |
| Management | - Dexamethasone - Treatment of root cause (tumour debulking, RT etc.) - Palliation: SVC stenting - Surgical mx: endovascular stent – percutaneous access via femoral v. + heparin |
| Prevention |