Abstract
Venous obstruction in the cancer population can result in substantial morbidity and,
in extreme cases, mortality. While venous obstruction can be caused by both benign
and malignant etiologies in this population, the management of malignant venous obstruction
as a palliative measure can be somewhat nuanced with respect to nonprocedural and
procedural management, both with respect to treatment of the underlying malignancy
as well as treatment of venous hypertension, which may be associated with venous thrombosis.
Symptom severity, primary malignancy, functional status, and prognosis are all fundamental
to the patient workup and dictate both the timing and extent of endovascular intervention.
The morbidity and mortality associated with malignant obstructions of central venous
structures, specifically the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava, can be significantly
improved with endovascular management in appropriately selected patients. Thus, the
pertinent literature regarding the clinical presentation, workup, and endovascular
management of malignant central venous obstruction syndromes, with directed attention
to superior vena cava syndrome and inferior vena cava syndrome, will be reviewed in
this article.
Keywords
interventional radiology - venous obstruction - malignancy - lung cancer - stent -
angioplasty
