Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: An Uncommon Presentation of a Rare Colon Carcinoma Metastasis.

Introduction: Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava due to vascular compression by a mass or intrinsic obstruction. The authors describe SVC syndrome caused by an isolated metastatic mediastinal mass from a resected primary colon carcinoma.

Case Report: An 81-year-old woman was referred to the hospital with swelling of the neck and upper left limb, dysphonia and dysphagia, associated with an involuntary weight loss of 16 kg.

Empyema necessitans: very late complication of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Empyema necessitans is a rare clinical finding nowadays. We report the case of a patient admitted in our ward for investigation of an unknown onset anterior chest wall mass, with no accompanying signs or symptoms. It is noteworthy that the patient had had pulmonary tuberculosis submitted to thoracoplasty more than 60 years before.