Effectiveness and safety of endovascular stent placement in 15 patients with superior vena cava syndrome caused by lung cancer
Nahoko Satoa Yousuke Mukasaa Aiko Masunagaa Sho Saekia Hidenori Ichiyasua Ji-ichiro Sasakia Kazuhiko Fujiia Osamu Ikedab Yasuyuki Yamashitab Hirotsugu Kohrogia
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital
bDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Kumamoto University Hospital
Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is mainly caused by a malignant tumor, especially by lung cancer with its mediastinal lymph node metastasis, resulting in impaired quality of life induced by edema of the face and upper extremities and by airway narrowing. Recently, endovascular stents have been applied to treat SVC syndrome and the effects evaluated. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 15 male patients (mean age 64.9 years) who were treated with endovascular stent because of SVC syndrome caused by lung cancer. The blood flow of SVC was improved in all patients within 24 h after the setting of an endovascular stent, and the symptoms had disappeared or decreased in 14 patients. Major side effects were not observed. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or both, could be started immediately after the setting of the stent in 10 patients, and overall survival time was 88 to 628 days (median 363). From these results, we concluded that the endovascular stent for SVC syndrome caused by lung cancer improves symptoms immediately and also compliance for therapeutics without major side effects, which may result in improving survival time.
Non-small cell lung cancer Small cell lung cancer Superior vena cava syndrome Endovascular stent Oncologic emergency
Received 22 Aug 2011 / Accepted 31 Jan 2012
AJRS, 1(5): 374-380, 2012