Key result
Chemotherapy is linked to rapid symptom resolution and ~78% disease-free survival in pediatric SVC syndrome.
Why the study?
The evaluation of workup and treatment approaches for children with lymphoma presenting with superior vena cava syndrome was needed to guide management.
Observational (n=11)
No
In children with lymphoma and superior vena cava syndrome, specific diagnosis can often be achieved via aspirates, and chemotherapy provides excellent symptomatic relief and long-term survival.
Supports less invasive diagnosis via aspirates and chemotherapy-first management in pediatric lymphoma with SVC syndrome; leaves open need for prospective validation.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the workup and treatment of children with lymphoma and superior vena cava syndrome. DESIGN: A retrospective survey. SETTING: State hospital serving as a secondary and tertiary referral center for pediatric oncology and pediatric cardiac surgery. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven children aged 11 months to 12 years diagnosed as having lymphoma or T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who presented with superior vena cava syndrome during an 11-year period. INTERVENTIONS: Lymph node biopsy (two patients), thoracenthesis (five patients), bone marrow aspiration (two patients), and thoracenthesis in addition to bone marrow aspiration (two patients). All aspirates were evaluated with immunohistochemical studies. Chemotherapy was the only management intervention. RESULTS: T-cell lymphoma or leukemia accounted for nine cases and Hodgkin's disease for two cases. Respiratory symptoms occurred in 10 patients, including tracheal compression in six patients (compression was life-threatening in one patient). Diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome was achieved in eight patients using surface-marker analysis of aspirates. The syndrome disappeared within 2 to 10 days. Seven of nine children whose conditions were diagnosed more than 1 year before this writing were alive and free of disease after mean follow-up of 37 months. CONCLUSIONS: (1) A specific diagnosis can be achieved in most children with superior vena cava syndrome and lymphoma; (2) Thoracic computed tomographic scans are essential, identifying minute pleural effusions that can aid diagnosis; (3) Anesthetic hazard is related only to severe tracheal compression; (4) Chemotherapy achieves excellent symptomatic relief; and (5) Long-term survival, without disease, is achievable.
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Alon Yellin (1992) conducted an observational in Lymphoma or T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with superior vena cava syndrome (n=11). Chemotherapy was evaluated on Survival and freedom from disease. Chemotherapy achieved excellent symptomatic relief, with superior vena cava syndrome disappearing within 2 to 10 days, and 7 of 9 children alive and disease-free after a mean 37 months.
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