Stokes Collar
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
A symptom described by Stokes (1804-78) in mediastinal tumors, characterized by severe edema of the neck, scapular region, head, and upper extremities. This condition can also occur in pericardio-mediastinitis and right heart failure due to compression of the v. anonyma.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
STOKES COLLAR (Stokes; 1804-78), a symptom described by Stokes in mediastinal tumors, consisting of severe edema of the neck, scapular region, head, and upper extremities (shoulders). Patients have a characteristic appearance: the head appears to be directly attached to the torso, marked cyanosis of the face, and distension of the jugular veins, sometimes with prominent superficial veins of the chest. This symptom, besides occurring in mediastinal tumors of various origins, is also observed in pericardio-mediastinitis and depends on compression of the v. anonyma, with symptoms often being more pronounced on one side when collateral circulation becomes insufficient. S. c. are sometimes observed in severe insufficiency of the heart (right) and tricuspid insufficiency due to retrograde stagnation in the jugular veins. Differential diagnosis of these conditions is possible based on the patient's history and other objective symptoms caused by lesions of various mediastinal organs, especially through radioscopic examination and auscultation of the heart, etc.
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Cite this page
“Stokes Collar.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/stokes-collar/