Retrospective Analysis of the Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in Irradiated Cancer Patients

Background: A carcinoma is the underlying cause of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) in 95-97% of patients. The aim of our study is to retrospectively analyse the outcome of patients after local radiotherapy compared to literature data. Patients and Methods: In 35 consecutively registered patients,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anticancer research 2006-11, Vol.26 (6C), p.4933-4936
Main Authors: MOSE, Stephan, STABIK, Christina, EBERLEIN, Klaus, RAMM, Ulla, BÖTTCHER, Heinz-D, BUDISCHEWSKI, Kai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Cardiology. Vascular system
Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms - complications
Neoplasms - pathology
Retrospective Studies
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome - etiology
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome - radiotherapy
Treatment Outcome
Tumors
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Summary:Background: A carcinoma is the underlying cause of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) in 95-97% of patients. The aim of our study is to retrospectively analyse the outcome of patients after local radiotherapy compared to literature data. Patients and Methods: In 35 consecutively registered patients, irradiated because of SVCS, different primary carcinomas (lung, breast, head-and-neck, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) were ascertained. Distant metastases had already been diagnosed in 33 patients. Chemotherapy had previously been given in seven patients. Results: In 30 patients, radiotherapy obtained a reduction of symptoms within 5-9 days. However, in seven patients, radiotherapy had to be stopped early because of local progress and tumor induced complications. Local recurrences were observed in six patients. The 1-year overall survival rate was 15.6%. Survival rate depended significantly on the performance status (p
ISSN:0250-7005
1791-7530