When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Superior vena cava syndrome

Última revisión: 18 Jun 2025
Última actualización: 18 Jul 2023

Resumen

Definición

Anamnesis y examen

Principales factores de diagnóstico

  • history of smoking, pacemaker, or central venous catheter
  • localized edema of the face and upper extremities
  • dyspnea
  • facial plethora
  • cough
  • distended neck veins
  • distended chest veins
  • hoarseness of voice
  • lymphadenopathy
  • blurred vision
  • stridor
  • confusion/stupor
Todos los datos

Otros factores de diagnóstico

  • anorexia
  • weight loss
  • hemoptysis
  • headache
  • chest pain
  • mental changes
  • fever
  • skin rash
  • arthralgia
  • laryngeal edema
  • cyanosis
  • papilledema
  • coma
Todos los datos

Factores de riesgo

  • smoking
  • multiple pacemaker leads
  • central venous catheters/ports
  • age >50 years
  • radiation
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas

Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar

  • chest x-ray
  • chest CT
  • chest MRI
  • ultrasound of upper extremities
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse

  • venography
  • biopsy
  • sputum cytology
  • thoracentesis
  • sputum culture
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • C-reactive protein
Todos los datos

Algoritmo de tratamiento

Agudo

acute airway obstruction (without tissue diagnosis)

En curso

malignant etiology

infectious etiology

iatrogenic etiology

Colaboradores

Autores

Kul Aggarwal, MD, MRCP, FACC
Kul Aggarwal

Professor of Clinical Medicine

University of Missouri

Columbia

MO

Divulgaciones

KA declares that he has no competing interests.

Albert K. Chan, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

University of Missouri

Columbia

MO

Divulgaciones

AKC declares that he has no competing interests.

Agradecimientos

Professor Kul Aggarwal and Dr Albert K Chan would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Nipun Arora and Lokesh Tejwani, previous contributors to this topic. NA declares that he has no competing interests.

Revisores por pares

Debabrata Mukherjee, MD

Gill Foundation Professor of Interventional Cardiology

Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories

Gill Heart Institute

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

University of Kentucky

Lexington

KY

Divulgaciones

DM declares that he has no competing interests.

Syed Wamique Yusuf, MD, MRCPI, FACC

Associate Professor

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Department of Cardiology

Houston

TX

Divulgaciones

SWY declares that he has no competing interests.

Andrew Turley, MB ChB

Cardiology Specialist Registrar

The James Cook University Hospital

Middlesbrough

UK

Divulgaciones

AT declares that he has no competing interests.

Referencias

Nuestros equipos internos de evidencia y editoriales colaboran con colaboradores expertos internacionales y revisores pares para garantizar que brindemos acceso a la información más clínicamente relevante posible.

Artículos principales

Azizi AH, Shafi I, Shah N, et al. Superior vena cava syndrome. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Dec 28;13(24):2896-2910.Texto completo  Resumen

American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria: suspected upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis. 2019 [internet publication].Texto completo

Uberoi R. Quality assurance guidelines for superior vena cava stenting in malignant disease. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2006 May-Jun;29(3):319-22. Resumen

Kearon C, Akl EA, Ornelas J, et al. Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: CHEST guideline and expert panel report. Chest. 2016 Feb;149(2):315-52.Texto completo  Resumen

Artículos de referencia

Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.
  • Superior vena cava syndrome images
  • Diferenciales

    • Cardiac tamponade
    • Constrictive pericarditis
    • Acute COPD exacerbation
    Más Diferenciales
  • Guías de práctica clínica

    • ACR Appropriateness Criteria: suspected upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis
    • Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease: CHEST guideline and expert panel report
    Más Guías de práctica clínica
  • padlock-lockedInicie sesión o suscríbase para acceder a todo el BMJ Best Practice

El uso de este contenido está sujeto a nuestra cláusula de exención de responsabilidad