Totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs) provide safe and reliable long-term venous access. Ports are usually implanted into large veins draining into the superior vena cava (SVC). Unfortunately, in patients with SVC occlusion – a fairly common complication in mediastinal tumours – implanting ports into the SVC is not possible. In an adolescent male with relapsed primary mediastinal lymphoma, complicated by complete SVC obstruction, we report the placement of a port into the right femoral vein by interventional radiology. The patient tolerated the insertion well and successfully received chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy. In patients with SVC obstruction, implanting venous ports through the femoral vein is feasible.

Lian BX, Lee YY, Lee RZ, Ong SJ. Femoral Venous Access Port in an Adolescent With Complete Superior Vena Cava Obstruction: A Case Report. Cureus. 2025 Apr 29;17(4):e83169. doi: 10.7759/cureus.83169. PMID: 40443600; PMCID: PMC12120803.