A man with dilated veins on his upper chest

A 77 year old man was referred by his general practitioner because of skin changes over his anterior chest wall (fig 1⇓). These skin changes had been present for several years and were not worsening. He had no history of dysphagia, voice change, shortness of breath, neck pain, neck swelling, or weight loss. His medical history included a goitre treated by radioiodine eight years earlier. He had no other medical history of note, he was not taking any drugs, and he did not smoke.

On examination he appeared well with no stridor. He was haemodynamically normal. Fullness was seen in the lower neck but no discrete lump was palpated. Numerous dilated veins were seen over the upper anterior chest wall on both sides, although they were more pronounced on the right side. He had no cervical lymphadenopathy or cachexia.

Blood tests showed normal thyroid function and thyroid antibodies were not raised. Computed tomography was performed (fig 2⇓). Fine needle aspiration was not performed.