Oncological Emergencies Dr. Gary Harding md, frcpc

Other causes

• Post radiation local vascular fibrosis can also be considered in oncology patients

• Thoracic radiation treatment may predate syndrome by many years

Other causes

• Thrombosis

• Indwelling central venous catheters

• Subcutaneous tunneled catheters have fewer thrombotic and infectious complications

• Can also cause pulmonary embolism5

Diagnosis

• Timely identification of the cause is essential

• Radiographic studies are useful

• Up to 60% of patients with SVC syndrome related to neoplasm do not have a known diagnosis of cancer6

• Need a tissue biopsy for histologic studies

Radiographic Studies

• Most patients have an abnormal chest x-ray at presentation

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