Which of the following is a symptom of SVC syndrome?

• A. Distended Veins
• B. Nausea
• C. Abdominal pain
• D. Fever

Answer: (A)

SVC syndrome arises when the superior vena cava is obstructed, preventing normal drainage of blood from the head, neck, and upper limbs. This causes venous hypertension in those regions, so veins in the neck and chest become visibly distended as blood backs up. That visible distention of the veins is the hallmark sign and explains why it is the best answer. The other options don’t fit this pattern: nausea, abdominal pain, and fever point to issues in the digestive system or infection and do not reflect the impaired venous return from the upper body. In real cases, the underlying cause is often a mediastinal mass or thrombosis, and management targets relieving the obstruction and addressing the cause.