SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA SYNDROME CAUSED BY ENCAPSULATED PLEURAL EFFUSION

Pleural effusion is often a manifestation of the superior vena cava (S VC) syndrome, However, pleural effusion has never been reported to be a cause of the SVC syndrome, We report the case of a 68 yr old male pa tient who presented with SVC syndrome and respiratory failure, both at tributable to an encapsulated pleural effusion over the right upper me diastinum. Simple drainage was performed as a diagnostic and therapeut ic procedure, The pleural effusion was confirmed to be a tuberculous e mpyema, Chest computed tomography (CT) scan is the most appropriate in itial diagnostic procedure for superior vena cava syndrome.