treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
Treatment is based on treating the acute symptoms, and making the underlying diagnosis
- dexamethasone may be useful in acute SVCO
- initial treatment consists of dexamethasone 16 mg daily orally to reduce oedema around the tumour (1)
- biopsy may be important
- radiotherapy or, if a sensitive tumour, then cytotoxic chemotherapy, are useful in the long term
- treatment may include insertion of a vascular stent
- note that there may be complete regression of signs of SVCO without complete regression of the mass
Reference:
- (1) West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2012). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control.