Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Superior vena cava syndrome in children

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is rare in childhood. 18 cases of SVCS were seen in children ranging from 3–14 years with a mean age of 8.8 years. There were 15 males and 3 female children. Diagnosis could be confirmed in 17 cases as one child succumbed to severe respiratory distress without a definitive diagnosis. The commonest cause of SVCS was lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) was more common than Hodgkin’s disease. In two cases the final diagnosis was tuberculosis of mediastinal lymph nodes. The diagnosis was confirmed by cervical lymph node biopsy in 6 cases, mediastinal biopsy in 6 cases and bone marrow aspiration in the remaining 5 cases. Intravenous Dexamethasone provided relief of symptoms in 13 patients. None of the children received emergency radiotherapy. Anti-tubercular treatment produced complete cure in the two patients with tubercular mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lange B, O’Neill JA, Goldwin JW, Parker RJ, Ross AJ (1997) In: Piazzo PA, Poplack DG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology. Philadelphia; Lippincott-Raven, 1025–1049

    Google Scholar 

  2. Janin Y, Becker J, Wise L, Schneider K, Schwartz D, So H (1982) Superior vena cava syndrome in childhood and adolescence. A review of literature and report of three cases. J Pediatr Surg 17:290–295

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. McIntire FT, Sykes EM Jr (1949) Obstruction of superior vena cava. A review of literature and report of two personal cases. Ann Intern Med 30:925–955

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. D’angio GJ, Mitos A, Evans AE (1965) The superior mediastinal syndrome in children with cancer. Am J Roentgenol Radiol Therap Nuclear Med 93:537–544

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Piastra M, Ruggiero A, Caresta E, Chiaretti A, Pulitano S, Polidori G, Riccardi R (2005) Life threatening presentation of mediastinal neoplasms: report on 7 consecutive pediatric patients. Am J Emerg Med 23:76–82

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Arya LS, Narain S, Tomar S, Thavaraj V, Dawar R, Bhargava M (2002) Superior vena cava syndrome. Indian J Pediatr 69:293–297

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yellin A, Mandel M, Rechavi G (1992) Superior vena cava syndrome associated with lymphoma. Am J Dis Child 146:1060–1063

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Issa PY, Brihi ER, Slim MS (1983) Superior vena cava syndrome in childhood: report of ten cases and review of literature. Pediatrics 71:337–341

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen JC, Bongard F, Klein SR (1990) A contemporary perspective on superior vena cava syndrome. Am J Surg 160:207–211

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lokich JJ, Goodman R (1975) Superior vena cava syndrome: clinical management. JAMA 231:58–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Northrip DR, Bohman BK, Tsueda K (1986) Total airway occlusion and superior vena cava syndrome in a child with an anterior mediastinal tumor. Anesth Analg 65:1079–1082

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Davis PF, Shevland JE (1985) Superior vena caval obstruction: an analysis of seventy six cases with comments on safety of venography. Angiology 36:354–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Davenport D, Ferree C, Blake D et al (1976) Response of the superior vena cava syndrome to radiation therapy. Cancer 38:1577–1580

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nitschke R, Acker S, Campbell D et al (1975) Superior vena cava syndrome. JAMA 233:1354–1355

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Schindler N, Vogelzang RL (1999) Superior vena cava syndrome. Experience with endovascular stents and surgical therapy. Surg Clin North Am 79:683–687

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

    Vineeta Gupta, Srikanth R. Ambati, P. Pant & Baldev Bhatia

Authors
  1. Vineeta Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Srikanth R. Ambati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Pant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Baldev Bhatia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vineeta Gupta.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gupta, V., Ambati, S.R., Pant, P. et al. Superior vena cava syndrome in children. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 24, 28–30 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-008-0020-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-008-0020-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation