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Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS), is a group of symptoms caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava (a short, wide vessel carrying circulating blood into the heart). More than 90% of cases of superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) are caused by cancer - most commonly bronchogenic carcinoma, typically a tumor outside the vessel compressing the vessel wall - but it can, sometimes, have a benign cause. Characteristic features are edema (swelling due to excess fluid) of the face and arms and development of swollen collateral veins on the front of the chest wall. Shortness of breath and coughing are quite common symptoms; difficulty swallowing is reported in 11% of cases, headache in 6% and stridor (a high-pitched wheeze) in 4%. The condition is rarely life-threatening, though edema of the epiglottis can make breathing difficult, and edema of the brain can cause reduced alertness, and in less than 5% of cases of SVCO, severe neurological symptoms or airway compromise are reported. ==Signs and symptoms== Shortness of breath is the most common symptom, followed by face or arm swelling.〔(emedicine > Superior Vena Cava Syndrome. ) Author: Michael S Beeson, MD, MBA, FACEP, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy; Attending Faculty, Summa Health System. Updated: Dec 3, 2009〕 Following are frequent symptoms: *Dyspnea〔 *Headache〔 *Facial edema〔 *Venous distention in the neck and distended veins in the upper chest and arms〔 *Upper limb edema〔 *Lightheadedness〔 *Cough〔 *Edema of the neck, called the ''collar of Stokes''〔(define:collar of Stokes ) at open-resource-project.org. Retrieved Mars 2011〕 *Pemberton's sign〔 Superior vena cava syndrome usually presents more gradually with an increase in symptoms over time as malignancies increase in size or invasiveness. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Superior vena cava syndrome」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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