Contributor: Jared Scott, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is caused by physical compression of the SVC and can present with facial swelling, upper extremity swelling, flushing, and parasthesias
• Common causes of SVC syndrome include lung cancer, lymphoma, and thymoma
• Keep SVC syndrome on the differential for all patients with facial or upper extremity swelling

References

The superior vena cava syndrome: clinical characteristics and evolving etiology. Rice TW, Rodriguez RM, Light RW. Medicine (Baltimore). 2006;85(1):37.

Diagnosis and management of superior vena cava syndrome. Markman M. Cleve Clin J Med. 1999;66(1):59.

Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD