Superior vena cava syndrome caused by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: a case report

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A 74-year-old man with a smoking history was admitted for back and right arm pain. On examination, swelling of the face and arms were noted, and computed tomographic imaging of the chest demonstrated a bulky (10.0 x 7.2 cm) tumor in the right upper mediastinum. The lesion compressed the superior vena cava (SVC). Despite treatment, the patient died 5 months after the first admission. On autopsy, he was diagnosed that SVC syndrome caused by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). ATL usually runs an aggressive course with multiple organs involving lymph nodes, liver, spleen, skin, lung, peripheral blood and bone marrow. Although it is extremely rare, SVC syndrome can appear as the earliest symptom of ATL.