Superior vena cava syndrome due to a retained central venous pressure catheter.

A 70-year-old man had the superior vena cava syndrome. At thoracotomy a retained central venous pressure line was found to be the cause of venous thrombosis at the outlet of the superior vena cava into the right atrium. A retained central venous pressure catheter and catheter-induced venous thrombosis should be added to the list of causes of the benign form of the superior vena cava syndrome.