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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Cureus

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Pulmonary Embolism Revealing a Lung Sarcomatoid Carcinoma: An Uncommon Presentation of a Rare Tumor

  • Amina Chadli1
  • Soufiane Berhili1
  • Ahmed BenSghier2
  • Mohamed Moukhlissi3
  • Loubna Mezouar2
  1. 1Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University, Oujda, MAR
  2. 2Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Mohammed VI, Oujda, MAR
  3. 3Radiotherapy, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, MAR
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Abstract

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, associated with early metastatic spread and poor prognosis. Tumor-related thromboembolic complications and superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome are uncommon but severe manifestations.

We report the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of smoking and alcohol use, presenting with a large right upper lobe tumor with widespread metastases, associated with radiologically suspected tumor-related pulmonary embolism and SVC invasion with multiple venous thromboses. Bronchoscopic biopsy with immunohistochemical analysis confirmed PSC. The patient received anticoagulation and urgent palliative radiotherapy (20 Gy in five fractions) for brain metastases and SVC syndrome. This case highlights the aggressive nature of PSC, its association with rare vascular complications, and the challenges of emergency palliative management in patients with advanced disseminated disease.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chadli2026superior,
  title = {{Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Pulmonary Embolism Revealing a Lung Sarcomatoid Carcinoma: An Uncommon Presentation of a Rare Tumor}},
  author = {Amina Chadli and Soufiane Berhili and Ahmed BenSghier and Mohamed Moukhlissi and Loubna Mezouar},
  journal = {Cureus},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.7759/cureus.117503},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117503},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Pulmonary Embolism Revealing a Lung Sarcomatoid Carcinoma: An Uncommon Presentation of a Rare Tumor
AU  - Amina Chadli
AU  - Soufiane Berhili
AU  - Ahmed BenSghier
AU  - Mohamed Moukhlissi
AU  - Loubna Mezouar
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/05
JO  - Cureus
DO  - 10.7759/cureus.117503
UR  - https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117503
AB  - Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, associated with early metastatic spread and poor prognosis. Tumor-related thromboembolic complications and superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome are uncommon but severe manifestations.  We report the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of smoking and alcohol use, presenting with a large right upper lobe tumor with widespread metastases, associated with radiologically suspected tumor-related pulmonary embolism and SVC invasion with multiple venous thromboses. Bronchoscopic biopsy with immunohistochemical analysis confirmed PSC. The patient received anticoagulation and urgent palliative radiotherapy (20 Gy in five fractions) for brain metastases and SVC syndrome. This case highlights the aggressive nature of PSC, its association with rare vascular complications, and the challenges of emergency palliative management in patients with advanced disseminated disease.
SN  - 2168-8184
ER  -