Superior vena cava syndrome is a clear sign for clinicians of infiltrative mediastinal involvement, usually caused by neoplasms in this location, and it is an indicator of poor prognosis. However, other diseases of benign origin can also cause these alterations. We present the case of a 34-year-old patient who debuted with symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome due to idiopathic mediastinal fi...

Superior vena cava syndrome comprises various symptoms and signs resulting from the obstruction of the superior vena cava and resulting in reduced blood flow. Superior vena cava may occur secondary to a variety of conditions, but malignant etiologies are the most common. Usually, the diagnosis is based on a quite clear clinical presentation. Patient with acute presentation can develop life-thre...

A 66 year old woman presented in extremis with symptoms and clinical and radiological signs of simultaneous obstruction of superior vena cava and middle lobe of right lung secondary to compression by a massive benign anterior mediastinal cyst. Excision of the cyst at median sternotomy resulted in complete resolution of all symptoms. This report is unusual on account of a) the concomitant presen...

Congenital agenesis of the inferior vena cava is an uncommon congenital anomaly which can be misdiagnosed. Agenesis of the inferior vena cava has an incidence of 0.0005% to 1% in the general population [1]. The most common cause of agenesis of the inferior vena cava is the failure of embryological development between the sixth and the tenth weeks of gestation. Heterotaxy syndrome is associated ...

To cite: García Carretero R. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2016-218844 DESCRIPTION An 81-year-old patient came to our clinic referred by his general practitioner to assess the distension of the veins in the neck and chest (figure 1). He was asymptomatic, except for the swollen collateral veins in the chest wall. He had no dyspnoea, cough or faci...

BACKGROUND Although mediastinal tumors compressing or invading the superior vena cava represent the major causes of the superior vena cava syndrome, benign processes may also be involved in the pathogenesis of this medical emergency. One of the rarest benign causes is a pseudoaneurysm developing in patients previously having heart surgery. CASE REPORT We present the case of a large pseudoaneu...

Nutcracker syndrome is a condition where there is compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery causing symptoms. Here, we describe the case of a female patient who had symptoms secondary to the compression of a left inferior vena cava between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery causing a nutcracker syndrome. We will review the etiology, embryo...

BACKGROUND Superior vena cava syndrome management has been traditionally radiation therapy, chemotherapy or chemoradiation, depending on the underlying malignancy involved and individual clinicopathological features of the case. Recent emergence of endovascular stents offer the opportunity for immediate relief of the venous stenosis. This review examines findings from the published series which...

A 38-year-old man was admitted for evaluation of Cushing's syndrome. Physical findings showed swelling of the face, and hypertension, but not Cushingoid stigmata. Laboratory data revealed serum cortisol level of 34.1 µg/dL and plasma ACTH of 140 pg/mL. Overnight administration of 1 and 8 mg dexamethasone did not suppress plasma ACTH or serum cortisol. Chest X-ray showed a mass at the upper-ante...