Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Revisited

A clinical review with analysis of prognostic factors, includingthe impact of the initial management modality, was conductedon 137 patients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) seenat the Veterans General Hospital-Taipei between 1989 and 1993.Malignant diseases account for most of the SVCS in our Chinesepatients. Patients received diagnostic intervention for theirunderlying diseases without obvious complications. Whether ornot there is a development of SVCS in lung cancer patients,showed prognostic significance in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLQ 'and no significance in small cell lung cancer (SCLQ.Those with SVCS as the initial manifestation of malignant diseasehad a poor prognosis compared to those who developed SVCS later.Survival is best in lymphoma/leukemia patients, followed bymalignant thymoma and SCLC, and worst in NSCLC and metastaticcancer. The rapid onset of symptoms from SVCS had a short mediansurvival in lung cancer and significantly compromised survivalin SCLC. The overall survival of SCLC with SVCS was not affected,regardless of whether the initial therapy had been radiotherapyor chemotherapy