ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: 85% of cases of Superior Vena Cava Obstruction (SVCO) are caused by malignancy. Radiation therapy (RT) is an effective therapeutic modality for SVCO localized in the thorax, especially for obstructive causes. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical profile and outcomes of patients who received radiation treatment at UP-PGH from January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2001. METHODS: Records of patients with SVCO were reviewed. The patient's demographic profiles were collected. Outcomes were labaled as recovered, improved, not improved and died based on standard definitions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive study. STUDY SETTING: Philippine General Hospital STUDY POPULATION: UP-PGH patients with SVCO from 2009-2011. RESULTS: The majority of the referrals were from general medicine (50%) and the most common symptom was dyspnea (73%); however, it took the patients 2-4 weeks from the onset of symptoms to seek consult. 36% of patients had lung adenocarcinoma with disseminated disease at diagnosis. The majority (73%) showed symptomatic response after receiving the SVC dose. CONCLUSION: The importance of multidisciplinary approach to patient care cannot be overemphasized. Improvement in signs and symptoms, particularly with that of dyspnea, was noted in 72.5% of patients after receiving radiation therapy. Of the 8 patients who followed up for completion therapy, 5/8 of them reported significant improvement.