Case report: Migration and shortening of a self-expanding metallic stent complicating the treatment of malignant superior vena cava stenosis

Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction complicates approximately 5% of cases of intrathoracic malignancy [1]. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may cause initial symptomatic improvement but recurrence occurs in approximately 10% to 20%. Venous stenting has been shown to be extremely effective palliative treatment of SVC obstruction, most series using Gianturco stents (William Cook, E urope) although other authors have used the Wallstent [2,4 6]. We report a case of palliative endovascular stenting of severe SVC obstruction associated with bronchial carcinoma. Despite optimal positioning of the stent, the procedure was complicated by migration a nd shortening of the stent after 24h, not previously described in the literature.