A Case of a Constricted Vessel: The Impact of Acute Myeloid Leukemia on the Superior Vena Cava

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most prevalent form of leukemia in adults, with rising global incidence rates. AML usually presents with non-specific clinical features such as pallor, fever, and bleeding. This case report discusses a unique presentation of AML, where a 25-year-old female with a...

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Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 11; p. e49616
Main Authors Desai, Paavan, Mistry, Dhruvish, Kothari, Jhanvi, Gupta, Ashima, Panchagnula, Keerthana, Singh, Gurinder, Baskar, Aakash, Pathak, Yashash
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 28.11.2023
Subjects
Bone marrow
Case reports
Chemotherapy
Dyspnea
Emergency medical care
Flow cytometry
Hypertension
Leukemia
Medical imaging
Pain
Pleural effusion
Sarcoma
Stem cell transplantation
Thrombosis
Veins & arteries
cytarabine
superior vena cava (svc) syndrome
atypical hematolymphoid malignancy
acute myeloid leukemia (aml)
cervical mediastinoscopy
daunorubicin
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Summary:Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most prevalent form of leukemia in adults, with rising global incidence rates. AML usually presents with non-specific clinical features such as pallor, fever, and bleeding. This case report discusses a unique presentation of AML, where a 25-year-old female with a history of hypertension presented with unilateral facial swelling, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Radiologic investigations revealed a mediastinal mass encasing the superior vena cava (SVC), confirming the suspicion of SVC syndrome. Upon testing with a biopsy, the mass was found to be composed of immature myeloid cells confirming the diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma-associated AML. The patient's treatment involved a combination of surgical debridement, induction chemotherapy, supportive care, and management of complications. This case highlights that despite its common occurrence, AML may present with atypical clinical manifestations such as SVC syndrome, posing challenges in its diagnosis and timely management.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.49616