Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association

Introduction. Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome results from the obstruction of blood flow through the SVC, having distinct pathophysiological underlying mechanisms. Cancer is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism that varies according to patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factor...

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Main Authors: Joana Espírito Santo, Inês Coutinho, Ana Pimentel, Rui Garcia, Rui Marques dos Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/345804
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author Joana Espírito Santo
Inês Coutinho
Ana Pimentel
Rui Garcia
Rui Marques dos Santos
author_facet Joana Espírito Santo
Inês Coutinho
Ana Pimentel
Rui Garcia
Rui Marques dos Santos
author_sort Joana Espírito Santo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome results from the obstruction of blood flow through the SVC, having distinct pathophysiological underlying mechanisms. Cancer is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism that varies according to patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors. An individualized clinical approach is important to pursue the accurate diagnosis of the underlying pathology causing thromboembolism in cancer patients. Case Presentation. The authors present a case of a 58-year-old male with an infrequent presentation of an unknown colon carcinoma, who has never had any symptom until he was hospitalized with the diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome and pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient had an advanced disease by the time of diagnosis and molecular alterations contributing to abnormal hemostasis. He presented venous and arterial thromboembolism and developed disseminated intravascular coagulopathy after surgery, anticoagulant and transfusion therapy, dying 40 days after the hospitalization. Conclusion. The authors discuss thromboembolic disease and tumor metastasis roles in a cancer patient with SVC syndrome. Thromboembolism in a malignancy context is a challenging clinical entity. A multifactorial perspective of the thrombotic disease is warranted to approach thromboembolism risk and stratify patients suitable to receive adequate anticoagulant prophylaxis and targeted therapies, aiming to improve clinical prognosis.
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spelling doaj-art-236bf53ee81a40f5a098989d8bc3b8a42025-08-20T02:04:40ZengWileyCase Reports in Oncological Medicine2090-67062090-67142015-01-01201510.1155/2015/345804345804Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial AssociationJoana Espírito Santo0Inês Coutinho1Ana Pimentel2Rui Garcia3Rui Marques dos Santos4Internal Medicine Department A, University Hospital Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, PortugalGeneral Surgery Department B, University Hospital Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine Department A, University Hospital Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine Department A, University Hospital Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, PortugalInternal Medicine Department A, University Hospital Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, PortugalIntroduction. Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome results from the obstruction of blood flow through the SVC, having distinct pathophysiological underlying mechanisms. Cancer is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism that varies according to patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors. An individualized clinical approach is important to pursue the accurate diagnosis of the underlying pathology causing thromboembolism in cancer patients. Case Presentation. The authors present a case of a 58-year-old male with an infrequent presentation of an unknown colon carcinoma, who has never had any symptom until he was hospitalized with the diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome and pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient had an advanced disease by the time of diagnosis and molecular alterations contributing to abnormal hemostasis. He presented venous and arterial thromboembolism and developed disseminated intravascular coagulopathy after surgery, anticoagulant and transfusion therapy, dying 40 days after the hospitalization. Conclusion. The authors discuss thromboembolic disease and tumor metastasis roles in a cancer patient with SVC syndrome. Thromboembolism in a malignancy context is a challenging clinical entity. A multifactorial perspective of the thrombotic disease is warranted to approach thromboembolism risk and stratify patients suitable to receive adequate anticoagulant prophylaxis and targeted therapies, aiming to improve clinical prognosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/345804
spellingShingle Joana Espírito Santo
Inês Coutinho
Ana Pimentel
Rui Garcia
Rui Marques dos Santos
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
title Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association
title_full Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association
title_fullStr Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association
title_full_unstemmed Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association
title_short Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Colon Carcinoma: A Report of a Multifactorial Association
title_sort superior vena cava syndrome and colon carcinoma a report of a multifactorial association
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/345804
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