OBJECTIVETo investigate the method, therapeutic effect and safety of interventional therapy for lung cancer patients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS).

METHODSFifty-two cases of lung cancer with SVCS who received interventional therapy in our hospital between Jan to Dec 2011 were included in this study. Of the 52 cases, 50 cases had successfully carried out superior vena cava stent implantation. The distal venous pressure was measured before and after angioplasty, and the results were assessed by Wilcoxon matched-pairs test. In addition, the 50 patients were followed up and the therapeutic effect and postoperative survival rate were evaluated.

RESULTSThe mean distal venous pressure in the 50 patients was significantly decreased from preoperative (28.2 ± 1.9)cm H2O to postoperative (8.7 ± 0.5)cm H2O (P = 0.0085). The efficacy of the treatment was as follows: complete remission (20/52, 38.5%), partial remission (28/52, 53.8%), ineffective 4 (4/52, 7.7%), and total effective rate 92.3%. The complications after angioplasty and stent implantation included chest pain (12 cases, 23.1%), hematoma at the puncture site (5 cases, 9.6%), and fever (2 cases, 3.8%). No serious complications such as massive hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism and stent migration into the cardiac atrium were observed. The rate of postoperative restenosis was low (2/52, 3.8%). For the SCLC group, the objective effective rate was 74.1% and 1-year survival rate was 21.0%. For the NSCLC group, the objective effective rate was 21.7% and 1-year survival rate was 35.0%.

CONCLUSIONSFor lung cancer patients with SVCS, interventional therapy may relief obstruction effectively, promote blood flow recovery, and relieve clinical symptoms. Interventional therapy with endovascular angioplasty and stenting may be highly recommended as the first choice for palliative treatment of SVCS. It is an effective initial palliative treatment. However, subsequent comprehensive anti-tumor treatment is necessary.