Case study of an oncological emergency: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS)

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is an oncological emergency. It is expected that the incidence of SVCS may rise with the increase in usage of central lines for both oncological and non-oncological reasons. The authors of this article present a case study in which a 56-year-old female patient presented at the emergency department with a three-week history of facial swelling, significant hearing loss, unrelenting cough, hoarseness, and swelling of the arms, chest and upper back. A CT scan demonstrated total occlusion of the superior vena cava, confirming SVCS. In this case report, the authors present a discussion of the causes of SVCS, its clinical presentation in relation to this patient's history, and the intervention provided to this patient.