• Pierfrancesco Veroux, Massimiliano Veroux, Maria Giovanna Bonanno, Maria Giuseppina Tumminelli, Elda Baggio, and Giuseppe Petrillo.
• Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital, Via S. Sofia, 78, 95123 Catania, Italy. veroux@mbox.unict.it
• Eur Radiol. 2002 Dec 1;12 Suppl 3:S181-4.

AbstractThe most likely etiology of benign obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) include fibrosing mediastinitis and iatrogenic etiologies such as sclerosis and obstruction caused by pacemakers and central venous catheter. Percutaneous stenting of SVC has been used with success both in malignant and benign superior vena cava syndrome; however, long-term follow-up of endovascular procedures is not well known. We present a case of a patient with complete occlusion of SVC of benign etiology, presenting dramatically with bilateral chylothorax and chylopericardium with cardiac tamponade, who underwent successful vena caval revascularization with thrombolytic therapy and placement of self-expanding metallic stent. The 42-month follow-up could encourage endovascular procedures even in SVC syndrome of benign etiology.

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