41 year old woman, admitted emergently one month after right radical nephrectomy for kidney cancer because of the occurrence of a massive superior vena cava syndrome, with severe dyspnoea, swelling of neck vessels, severe headache, bulging eyes, enormous left swollen arm. Most urgent high dose corticosteroids and radiotherapy on totally obstructed left supra-clavicular vein by a tumour thrombosis.
Stabilization and regression of acute symptoms and development of a very efficient skin collateral circulation (blue skin aspect). Quiet breathing becomes possible.
The picture below is a reconstruction from scan pictures in a coronal plan showing the supra-clavicular thrombosis.
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| Comment : note the major thrombosis of superior vena cava which goes down to auricle, [3] while inferior vena cava seem also enlarged (and the inferior part of right auricle [1]. In [2], left ventricle and ascending aorta. |
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| Picture from Centre François Baclesse |
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| Comment : note the supra-clavicular and superior vena cava thrombosis [4] which goes profoundly down into the auricle. In [1] and [2], the left ventricle and aorta. In [3] : pulmonary artery. |
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| Picture from Centre François Baclesse |
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