Palliative surgery for malignant mediastinal tumor invading the superior vena cava and right atrium.

Intra-atrial extension of a superior vena cava (SVC) tumor is rare and it is associated with high mortality rates. An 80-year-old woman presented with malignant mediastinal tumor invading the superior vena cava and right atrium. The unresectable tumor caused uncontrolled SVC syndrome and led to the risk of pulmonary artery tumor thrombosis. Palliative surgery for the intracaval and atrial tumor was performed. Presently, 6 months after surgery, the patient remains free from SVC syndrome and has received effective adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor.