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Updated: May 26, 2026

Echocardiographic Assessment Using Subxiphoid-Only Examination for Hypotensive Patients
Published on: April 18, 2025
[A rare cause of superior vena cava syndrome]
A Lepida1, T Berghmans, J-P Sculier
1Service des Soins Intensifs et Urgences Oncologiques, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université libre de Bruxelles.
Abstract:
A 85-year old patient with an history of low grade follicular lymphoma was admitted in the hospital with a superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. The computed tomography scan of the thorax and the trans-esophageal echocardiography revealed a voluminous mass in the right atrium, extending to the origin of the SVC. A transvenous biopsy was done under echocardiographic control. The immunohistology showed a diffuse large B cell lymphoma. He received chemotherapy associating rituximab, doxorubicine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone. The clinical response after the second cycle was remarkable with a near complete regression of the SVC syndrome. The tumor was no longer visible in imaging after four cycles of treatment.
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