Internal jugular phlebectasia in an African adult

Abstract

Jugular vein phlebectasia is a rare venous anomaly commonly presenting as a unilateral neck swelling in children and adults. Its aetiology is unknown and its detection may have increased with availability of better imaging facilities. Due to its rarity, a high index of suspicion is required once other causes of neck swelling are excluded. The few reported cases are mainly in children and non-Africans adults. The authors report the case of a 54-year-old Nigerian woman presenting for the first time with a progressive, intermittent, painless right neck swelling, which was demonstrated on Doppler ultrasound and CT angiography to be an internal jugular phlebectasia. She had satisfactory surgical excision of the dilated segment for cosmetic reasons.

Right Internal Jugular Vein Ectasia in African Woman: A Report of 2 Cases

“…There is no known sex predilection. It is reported that males are more commonly affected than females [3] [6]. Our cases were females.…”

“…Our cases were females. Although cases of internal and external jugular vein ectasia have been reported mostly in children and non-African adults, as far as we are aware very few cases has been previously reported in the electronic literature in an African adult especially in woman [3]. The cause of venous ectasia is unknown.…”

“…Acquired factors such as inflammation, injury, and the state of Valsalva strain are considered to contribute to its development in adults [2]. It is also known that IJV ectasia develops more frequently in the right jugular vein because this vessel is more subject to the effects of increased intrathoracic pressure than the left jugular vein [1] [3]. The left being placed more medially was not subject to this stress.…”

“…Due to the rarity of this condition, a high index of suspicion is required and the possibility of IJV should always be borne in mind. Complications are rare, such as thrombosis and Horner's syndrome [3] [4] and the main complaint is essentially cosmetic. However, recent long-term ob-servational studies have documented numerous asymptomatic patients with favorable courses.…”

“…To our knowledge, a single case has been reported in an African adult. [3] Our cases are being reported in view of its clinical rarity and to highlight the management strategies with the literature review.…”