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Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (cont.)
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- Introduction
- What causes superior vena cava syndrome?
- What are the symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome?
- How is superior vena cava syndrome diagnosed?
- How is superior vena cava syndrome treated?
- What is the prognosis for superior vena cava syndrome?
- Superior Vena Cava Syndrome At A Glance
- Find a local Cardiologist in your town
What is the prognosis for superior vena cava syndrome?
The outcome and prognosis is dependent upon the underlying cause of the superior vena cava syndrome.
Superior vena cava syndrome At A Glance
- Superior vena cava syndrome is most often caused by compression of the vein
(the superior vena cava, that returns blood from the upper body back to the
right atrium of the heart) by tumor.
- Symptoms include swelling of the face and arms associated with shortness of
breath.
- Treatment is directed at the underlying cause and consists of various measures aimed at decreasing the severity of the obstruction.
Last Editorial Review: 4/21/2008
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