Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcome
Aumkhae Sookprasert MD1, Vichai Sinchaiyaphum MD2, Jarin Chindaprasirt MD1, Kosin Wirasorn MD1
Affiliation : 1 Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kean University, Khon Kean, Thailand 2 Department of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kean University, Khon Kean, Thailand
Objective : Superior vena cava syndrome [SVCS] is a disease, which has high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present
study is to evaluate clinical presentation, treatment outcome, and prognostic factors of SVCS patients.
Materials and Methods : The present study is a retrospective study. 81 patients with new diagnosis of SVCS using clinical
diagnosis in Srinagarind University Hospital were enrolled during January 2001 to December 2010. Clinical data and
treatment outcome were analysed by using uni- and stepwise multivariate analysis.
Results : There were 81 SVCS patients were included and, 79.01% were male. The mean age of patients was 52.72+16.4
years. The most common first clinical presentation of SVCS patients was swelling on the face and upper arm (77.78%). The
majority cause of SVCS was mediastinal mass with unknown pathology (30.86%), followed by bronchogenic carcinoma
(18.52%) and SVC thrombosis (13.58%). The most common treatment modality was combined therapy (corticosteroid and
radiotherapy) (43.21%). There were 59.26% of all patients, who had good response of treatment. Median overall survival
time of SVCS patients was 2.2 (95% CI, 1.18 to 3.21) months. Results analysed by univariate analysis and multivariate
analysis showed that receiving treatment (p = 0.10) trended to be a good prognostic factor.
Conclusion : SVCS is the critical disease leading to short survival time. Early diagnosis, receiving treatment will provide good
prognosis.
Keywords : SVCS, Superior vena cava syndrome, Clinical presentation, Treatment outcome, Prognostic factors
