ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular stent insertion for non-small cell lung cancer patients with superior vena cava syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively studied 123 patients referred to our hospital for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer presenting with superior vena cava syndrome. Patients were devided in two groups according to the use of endovascular stent insertion in superior vena cava syndrome or not. 64 patients underwent endovascular stent insertion was designed as the stenting group and 59 without stenting as control group. The differences between the two groups in complete response, complication and survival were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The complete response rate of superior vena cava obstruction was 92.0% for the stenting group, and 42.0% for the control group, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The median time to complete response was (3.76 ± 2.83) days in the stenting group, significantly shorter than that of the control group (28.08 ± 16.06) days (P < 0.001). The relapse rate after complete response was 12.0% in the stenting group and 16.0% in the control group, showing a non-significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.607). The median time to relapse was 2.7 months in the stenting group and 1.1 months in the control group (P = 0.533). In the stenting group, stent stenosis occurred in 1 case and thrombosis was observed in 3 cases. The incidence rate of complications was 6.3%. Thrombosis occurred in 1 case of the control group, with an incidence rate of complications of 1.7%, showing a non-significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.201). Seven among the 123 patients were still alive at the endpoint of following up. The median survival time was 8.0 months (stenting group) and 5.5 months (control group) (P = 0.382).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endovascular stent insertion is effective and safe for non-small lung cell cancer patients with superior vena cava syndrome, and it may be recommended as the first choice for palliative treatment of superior vena cava obstruction.</p>