Introduction:

superior vena cava syndrome is a group of symptoms and signs caused by deterioration of blood flow from the upper half of the thorax, neck, head and upper extremities to the right atrium due to partial or complete obstruction of the superior vena cava. Malignant tumors, such as lung cancer and lymphoma, are the main cause in up to 90% of cases. Superior vena cava syndrome has been reported as a rare complication of thyroid cancer, resulting from mediastinal invasion by the tumor or intravascular invasion of the tumor with thrombosis.

Patient information:

it is described the case of an 87-year-old female patient, with clinical history of thyroid cancer, who was admitted to the Emergency Department due to wet cough, dyspnea and poor urine output, who presented superior vena cava syndrome as a complication of this neoplasm due to thrombosis of the vena cava, both jugular veins and the root of the pulmonary artery.

Conclusion:

the superior vena cava syndrome, although it is not very common, occurs with some frequency, that is why it is necessary to diagnose the process, whether benign or malignant. The management of these patients always presents great difficulties because, on many occasions, they behave as serious clinical emergencies.

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