Key result
Management of superior vena cava syndrome has shifted from being considered a medical emergency to requiring histological diagnosis prior to treatment.
Highlights a paradigm shift in managing superior vena cava syndrome, emphasizing the necessity of histological diagnosis before treatment rather than treating it as an immediate medical emergency.
Supports histological diagnosis before treatment in superior vena cava syndrome; leaves open need for prospective validation.
Superior vena cava syndrome is referred to as a constellation of symptoms and signs caused by obstruction of superior vena cava. It can occur due to both benign and malignant causes with the latter being the predominant. There is a paradigm shift in the approach to manage this condition. It is no longer considered a medical emergency and histological diagnosis is necessary before treatment. This article reviews the causes, symptoms, pathophysiology, and overall management policy which have changed over decades.
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Talapatra et al. (2016) conducted a review in Superior vena cava syndrome. Management of superior vena cava syndrome has shifted from being considered a medical emergency to requiring histological diagnosis prior to treatment.
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