Superior vena cava syndrome associated with Behcet’s disease and 18 months’ follow up: a case report

Surgical treatment for Behcet's disease with acute superior vena cava syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystem vasculitis with unknown etiology. The involvement of superior vena cava (SVC) is reported in less than 2% of patients with BD.

METHODS

We report a patient with acute edema of neck and face associated with dyspnea as the primary manifestation. So a diagnosis of superior Vena Cava syndrome (SVCS) was made and the thickening wall of SVC was resected. An Operation was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass to remove the mass and thrombus for avoiding for pulmonary embolism.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of Behcet's disease (BD) didn't not be made until the recurrent oral and genital ulceration occurred 2 weeks later. The patient taked aspirin and prednisolone orally as prescribed and no recurrence were observed during the 30 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

BD should be suspected in patients presenting with SVCS, when there is thickening of SVC, whether thrombosis or not. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for management of BD.

Extensive venous thrombosis and cardiomyopathy demonstrated with cardiovascular magnetic resonance

We describe a patient who presented with typical symptoms of submassive pulmonary embolism associated with newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy. Contrast enhanced computed tomography demonstrated extensive venous thrombosis, and late enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy with midwall fibrosis. We discuss the images and aetiology of the cardiomyopathy.