Superior vena cava syndrome is caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava due to a variety of malignant and benign entities. The most common malignant entities are lung cancer and mediastinal tumor. Conventional treatments include bypass surgery, external beam radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and medical treatment. This patient is a victim of small cell lung cancer with superior vena cava syndrome and complicated with acute upper airway obstruction. Patient received urgent tracheostomy and medical treatment(corticosteroid and diuretics)to maintain the airway and then received radiotherapy. Based on literature review, tracheostomy usually was not recommended for the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome. However, base on the treatment experience of this patient, we found that tracheostomy may be necessary for relief acute upper airway obstruction.