Benign superior vena cava syndrome due to suppurative mediastinal lymphadenitis: anterior mediastinoscopic management.

The benign superior vena cava syndrome is an uncommon medical emergency. We describe a case of the superior vena cava syndrome caused by suppurative mediastinal lymphadenitis. The organisms isolated from various cultures were group C beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Fusobacterium species, Corynebacterium species, Eikenella corrodens, and Streptococcus milleri. These anaerobic bacteria are part of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract and the oral cavity. Anterior mediastinoscopy through the right parasternal approach was used to drain the anterior mediastinal abscess and to establish the etiologic factor.