Sore shoulders and swollen fingers should be suspected of superior vena cava thrombosis syndrome, which is caused by compression of the superior vena cava, resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the superior vena cava lumen and the formation of thrombus, which leads to poor blood return after obstruction, resulting in excessive fluid accumulation in the tissue spaces and swollen fingers.
It can also be caused by malignant tumours with occupying compression and inflammatory lesions within and outside the superior vena cava, such as superior vena cava phlebitis and mediastinitis. In some patients, the thrombosis is due to medical causes such as pacemaker placement and catheter manipulation.