Outcomes in patients managed with endovascular stent for malignant superior vena cava syndrome

Malignant Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS) corresponds to the clinical manifestations due to the restriction of venous return to the right atrium secondary to obstruction of the superior vena cava and/or its main tributaries for a tumor. Endovascular management has proven to be safe, effective and cause a fast symptomatic relief in patients with SVCS. There is limited evidence in factors associated with outcomes in malignant setting for this procedure.

An analytical retrospective study was conducted and included patients that underwent endovascular management for malignant SVCS at the National Cancer Institute of Colombia between May 2016 and May 2021. Clinical and technical variables were analyzed to found associations with outcomes in these patients.

54 patients were analyzed. Successful procedure rate was 94.4 %. At 10 months, the OS of the entire cohort of patients was 25 %. Patients with breast or lung cancer (P = 0.031), unsuccessful procedure (P = 0.011), and also with short time of symptoms to the date of the endovascular procedure (P = 0.027) had worse OS. Multivariate analysis showed that lung cancer [HR = 2.55, 95%IC:(1.21-5.36)] and left internal jugular vein or left Innominate vein distal stent attachment [HR = 3.27, 95%IC:(1.31-8.15)] were independent factors for worst OS.

Based in the high success rate of the endovascular management and the better outcome in patients with early and successful procedure, this procedure should be considered as part of the multimodal treatment in patients with SVCS independent of the clinical scenario and the oncological diagnosis.