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

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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Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-10-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117503
Primary Topic
Metastasis and carcinoma case studies
Type
article
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article

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

Soufiane Berhili, Loubna Mezouar, Ahmed BenSghier, Mohamed Moukhlissi et al.
Cureus
Metastasis and carcinoma case studies
article

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

Soufiane Berhili, Loubna Mezouar, Ahmed BenSghier, Mohamed Moukhlissi, Amina Chadli
article en

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.

Cureus
Mohamed I University (MA), Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Mohammed VI d'Oujda (MA)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Metastasis and carcinoma case studies
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Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Pulmonary Embolism Revealing a Lung Sarcomatoid Carcinoma: An Uncommon Presentation of a Rare Tumor — Soufiane Berhili, Loubna Mezouar, et al. · Cureus (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS