Superior vena cava syndrome caused by invasive aspergillosis

A 37-year-old man with blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia was admitted for chemotherapy. After treatment with an infusion of vincristine, he became leukopenic and febrile. Two episodes of gram-negative septicemia were treated with prolonged courses of antibiotics; however, fever persisted, and the patient developed the superior vena cava syndrome. Despite therapy with amphotericin B, the patient died. At autopsy a thrombus of Aspergillus was found completely occluding the superior vena cava.