Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of the superior vena cava syndrome resulting from aortic dissection: a multiplane study.

The case of an 82-year-old patient with signs and symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome is described. A multiplane transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated anatomic and Doppler flow evidence of superior vena caval obstruction due to compression by a dissected, aneurysmal ascending aorta. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography is particularly useful in the diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome when it is a sequela of thoracic aortic disease.