Diseases

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

A condition that occurs when the obstruction of the thin-walled SUPERIOR VENA CAVA interrupts blood flow from the head, upper extremities, and thorax to the RIGHT ATRIUM. Obstruction can be caused by NEOPLASMS; THROMBOSIS; ANEURYSM; or external compression. The syndrome is characterized by swelling and/or CYANOSIS of the face, neck, and upper arms which is called Pemberton's sign. Classification of SVC obstruction is often based on COLLATERAL CIRCULATION.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A condition that occurs when the obstruction of the thin-walled SUPERIOR VENA CAVA interrupts blood flow from the head, upper extremities, and thorax to the RIGHT ATRIUM. Obstruction can be caused by NEOPLASMS; THROMBOSIS; ANEURYSM; or external compression. The syndrome is characterized by swelling and/or CYANOSIS of the face, neck, and upper arms which is called Pemberton's sign. Classification of SVC obstruction is often based on COLLATERAL CIRCULATION.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

12 entry terms
  • Obstruction of the Superior Vena Cava
  • SVC Obstruction
  • SVC Syndrome
  • Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
  • Obstruction, SVC
  • SVC Obstructions
  • SVC Syndromes
  • Syndrome, SVC
  • SVC Thrombosis
  • Superior Vena Cava Thrombosis
  • SVC Thromboses
  • Thrombosis, SVC

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

coordinate with the cause of the obstruction

MeSH Record

History Note

86

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Thrombosis (1966-1985)
  • Vascular Diseases (1966-1985)
  • Vena Cava, Superior (1966-1985)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. C14w.907w.800w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WG 625.V3

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013479. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013479
  2. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_vena_cava_syndrome
  3. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q610737