Diagnostic Criteria of Internal Jugular Phlebectasia in Korean Children

Abstract

Internal jugular phlebectasia (IJP) is a fusiform dilatation of the internal jugular vein (IJV), usually presented as a neck mass in children. Accurate diagnosis from carefully directed history, physical examination, and radiological study could result in lifesaving therapy. We performed our study to suggest possible clinical diagnostic criteria for IJP in Korean children. We reviewed three cases of IJP (patients group) and compared the diameter of the internal jugular phlebectasias with diameters of IJVs in ten normal children (control group) using ultrasonography (USG). There were no significant differences in the range of diameters in the resting state between the two groups. The diameters on the right side, compared with those on the left side, showed no statistical significance (p> 0.05). The range of expanding diameter and average expanding ratios (resting state to Valsalva maneuver x 100%) showed a statistical difference between the two groups (p < 0.05).

Dimensions of internal jugular veins in Turkish children aged between 0 and 6 years in resting state and during Valsalva maneuver

“…Therefore, knowledge about the details of the IJV sizes may be important in an attempt of intravascular intervention to IJV. In addition, these details may contribute to the diagnosis of some pathologic situations like phlebectasia which is defined as congenital fusiform dilatation of the IJV that appears as a soft, compressible mass in the neck during straining or triggered by the Valsalva maneuver (VM) [3,4].…”

The sizes of internal jugular veins in Turkish children aged between 7 and 12 years

“…Jeon et al [9] compared the diameters of internal jugular phlebectasia with the diameters of IJV in normal children. In the normal control group, average diameter for IJV on the right side was 9.75 ± 2.27 mm in the resting state, while it was 13.51 ± 3.87 mm on Valsalva maneuver.…”

“…There are many studies performed concerning the IJV diameters and cross-sectional area for both interventional and diagnostic purposes [1,2,7,9,10].…”

“…There may be diagnostic problems in pediatric patients who present with phlebectasia mimicking other neck masses [5,6]. In the literature, there are many studies about the sizes and cross-sectional area of the IJV, aiming at guiding both the interventional medical procedures and also the diagnosis of vascular pathologies like phlebectesia [1,2,[7][8][9][10]. Mortensen et al [1] measured the cross-sectional internal diameters of IJVs in a study they performed in cervical and femoral vessels.…”

“…Mortensen et al [1] measured the cross-sectional internal diameters of IJVs in a study they performed in cervical and femoral vessels. Jeon et al [9] compared the diameters of internal jugular phlebectasia with diameters of IJVs in normal children. Chao et al [10] also compared the children with phlebectasia with the healthy volunteers as controls.…”