Updated January 06, 2015.
Definition: Superior Vena Cava
The superior vena cava is the large blood vessel that returns deoxygenated blood from the head, neck, chest, and arms to the heart.
Lung cancers, especially those in the right upper lung, sometimes press on the superior vena cava causing superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. SVC syndrome is a set of symptoms that can include swelling of the face, arms, or chest wall, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Further Reading:
Also Known As: SVC
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