Ultrasound Revealed Right Atrial Tumor Thrombus in a Patient with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: A Case Report

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of ultrasonography in diagnosing right atrial tumor thrombus among a patient with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). Case presentation: A 73-year-old male with small cell lung cancer presented with facial edema 10 days after chemotherapy. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) revealed lung cancer with lymph node metastases, invasion of the superior vena cava, and right pulmonary artery. Ultrasound revealed stenosis of the superior vena cava with sluggish blood flow, showing a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. Conclusion: This case highlights ultrasound’s critical role as a tool for SVCS evaluation, particularly in detecting intracardiac involvement and quantifying hemodynamic severity, enabling timely intervention to mitigate life-threatening complications.