Superior vena cava syndrome early after pacemaker implantation in a patient with lung carcinoma: A case report

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is typically dramatic. Although the diagnosis is usually easy, elucidation of the etiology is difficult. We present a patient who developed SVC syndrome early after transvenous pacemaker implantation and who was subsequently diagnosed with lung carcinoma. The pathogenesis seems to be explained by a combination of two etiologies: lung carcinoma plus transvenous pacemaker implantation. We emphasize that common etiologies such as malignancy should be considered first when faced with SVC syndrome.