[Digital subtraction phlebography of the veins of the arm and the superior vena cava].

We report on the results of 40 digital subtraction phlebograms of the great veins of the upper extremities and the mediastinum in 32 patients. In all cases diagnostic satisfactory examinations were achieved that demonstrated the anatomy of the veins in question. The method can be either used for the primary diagnosis or for controls during lysis of thrombotic lesions. The v. cava superior could be opacified even after ipsilateral injection of diluted contrast media in one-sided thrombotic occlusions of these veins.