SVC obstruction

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, section through the middle

SVC obstruction

Definition:

SVC obstruction is a narrowing or obstruction of the superior vena cava -- the major vein draining the upper body.

Alternative Names:
Superior vena cava obstruction; Superior vena cava syndrome
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction is a relatively rare condition. Most often it is caused by one of several cancers that can be found in the mediastinum (the area of the chest under the breastbone and between the lungs).

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These include lymphomas, cancer of the lung with extension into the mediastinum, breast cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and thymic tumors. Superior vena cava obstruction can also be caused by noncancerous conditions that cause chronic fibrosis (scarring).

These include lung infections, such as tuberculosis, histoplasmosis infection, and thrombophlebitis (particularly extension of thrombophlebitis of superficial veins or the subclavian vein). Other causes of superior vena cava obstruction include aortic aneurysm, constrictive pericarditis, and goiter.