Temporal, Infratemporal & Pterygopalatine BY Dr.RIG.pptx
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
1. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
(SCS)
Dr. Subhash Thakur
Clinical Oncologist, CMC, Bharatpur, Nepal
MD (PGIMER, Chandigarh)
2. Contents
Introduction
Physiology of SVC Obstruction
(SVCO)
Aetiology
Clinical Evaluation
Investigations
Treatment
Stenting in SVCO
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Thrombolytic and
Anticoagulation
Summary
3. Introduction
A range of signs and symptoms from compression of SVC or
associated greater veins (External Compression or Internal
Obstruction)
Secondary to malignancies: 73-97%
4. Rarely an emergency in absence of tracheal compression
However, SVCO has an impact on prognosis
Median survival who receive treatment: 46 weeks
Median survival without treatment: 6 weeks
5. Physiology of Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
Superior Venacava
Thin walled, compliant and easily
compressible vein
1/3rd of total venous return to heart
Head, neck and upper extremities
6. SVC compression or Obstruction can
result in compromise of cardiac
output in acute setting, but within
few hours, collaterals develop
Collateral vessels achieve steady state
blood return to the azygous vein or
inferior Venacava
7. Severity of Symptoms depend on:
Degree of narrowing of SVC and
Speed of Onset
11. Aetiology
Compression, Invasion or Thrombosis of
SVC
Result of Inflammatory, Benign or
neoplastic processes
Lung Cancer is the most frequent
malignant cause
12. Principle Causes of SVCO
Lung Cancer (52 – 81%)
Small cell cancer
Non small cell cancer
Diffuse large cell cancer
Lymphoma (2 -20%)
Lymphoblastic
Metastatic Disease to Mediastinum
Breast Cancer
Germ Cell Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Others
14. Clinical Evaluation
All patients with suspected SVCO should have thorough clinical history to assess
duration and speed of symptom onset
History should also involve previous invasive procedures and malignancies
Detail examination can rule common differentials like CHF and Cushing's
syndrome
Careful examination of neurological system: subtle but life threatening due to
cerebral Edema
15. Clinical Evaluation
Symptoms of SVCO
Dyspnea
Cough
Facial edema
Headache
Nasal stuffiness
Tongue swelling
Hoarseness
Stridor
Signs of SVCO
Jugular vein distension
Upper extremity swelling
Facial and upper body plethora
Chemosis
Mental status changes
Lethargy, Stupor and coma
Syncope
Cyanosis
Papilledema
16. Radiological Evaluation
Chest X-ray
Often abnormal
Can identify superior
mediastinal masses or
mediastinal widening
Hilar masses and pleural
effusion
17. Contrast CT or MRI
Gold standard
Localize the level of SVCO and underlying pathology
Tumor mass/size
SVC diameter
Length of stenosis/obstruction
Evidence of SVCO thrombus
Formation of collateral vessels
18. Tissue Biopsy
Treatment is determined by underlying pathology
Sub-acute setting, malignancy is suspected, tissue biopsy should be obtained
Can be done via
Bronchoscopy
Endobronchial ultrasound
Mediastinoscopy
FNAC or excision biopsy
CT guided biopsy
19.
20. Treatment
Treatment
Stenting in SVCO
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Surgery
Thrombolytic and Anticoagulation
Head elevation and supplementary Oxygen while
obtaining investigations
Steroids and diuretics are often used but their evidences
are not well studied
Anxiolytic and morphine: initial supportive management
21. Stenting in SVCO
Safe and effective with rapid resolution of SVCO symptoms
Endovascular stenting relieves symptoms in 95% of patients with lung cancer
Can be accompanied even if there is complete SVCO or thrombosis
Are percutaneously delivered into Venacava under fluoroscopic guidance
Available in two fundamental designs:
Self expanding or
expandable
22. Immediate Endovascular Stenting
Life threatening symptoms such as hemodynamic compromise, laryngeal edema or
cerebral edema
Strongly recommended for patients with limited treatment approaches like
mesothelioma
Questionable in chemo sensitive tumors like SCLC, Lymphoma and germ cell
tumors
23. Complications of stenting
3 – 7%
Infection
Pulmonary emboli
Pericardial tamponade
Stent migration
Perforation
Bleeding
Stent failure due to extrinsic
tumor compression, infiltration
of tumor through the stent or
thrombus
24. Radiotherapy
An effective treatment modality for certain tumor types as an
Initial intervention or
Adjuvant treatment after stenting
Subjective improvement is seen within 72 hours of initiation of therapy
75% of malignancies associated SCS notice symptomatic improvement within 3 –
5 days, 90% in 1 week
Objective response requires 1 – 3 weeks
25. Dose: 30 Gray in 10 # or 50 Gray in 25 #
For lymphomas, daily dose of 1.8 to 2 Gy is recommended and for lung cancers 2
to 3 Gy daily dose
All locoregional diseases including hilar and supraclavicular region should be
treated with sufficient margin
26. Side effects of Radiotherapy
Initial worsening of symptoms secondary to
edema
tumor necrosis with fever
myelosuppression
alopecia
nausea, vomiting
stomatitis
esophagitis and
infection
27. Failure of radiation therapy: Reasons
Obstructive Thrombosis
Tumor recurrence
Radiation fibrosis
Failure of development of collaterals secondary to fibrosis
The mean post treatment survival is 6 to 7 months
28. Chemotherapy
Treatment of Choice for
Non Hodgkin lymphoma
Germ Cell Tumors
SCLC
These tumors are exquisitely chemo sensitive
Relief of symptoms: 80% of NHL, 77% in SCLC and 40% NSCL patients
Symptoms usually improve within 1 – 2 weeks of treatment initiation
30. Surgery
To bypass or resect tumors to decompress the venous system are effective in
selected patients
However, invasive procedures in this predominantly palliative patients has very
limited role
In patients with malignant Thymoma and Thymic carcinoma, surgery should be
evaluated as part of multimodal treatment strategy
31. Thrombolytics and Anticoagulation
Benefit is unclear
30 – 50 % of patients with SVCO have thrombosis at post mortem
Experts recommendation: anticoagulation after thrombolysis to
Prevent recurrence of thrombus and
Reduce the incidence of pulmonary emboli
Aspirin is often recommended after stent placement in absence of thrombus
32. Summary
SCS is often clinically striking but rarely requires emergency intervention
Treatment planning should be multidisciplinary
Tissue biopsy is warranted to guide diagnosis and optimize treatment
Life threatening symptoms or signs: intravascular stenting provide rapid relief
In patients with malignancy, after stenting, radiotherapy/chemotherapy is
advised
Chemo sensitive malignancies: Chemotherapy should be initiated