Ultrasonographic diagnosis and color flow Doppler sonography of internal jugular venous ectasia in children

Hsun Chin Chao, Kin Sun Wong, Syh Jae Lin, Man Shan Kong, Tzou Yien Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigated the diagnostic utility of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of internal jugular venous ectasia. Eight children (six boys, two girls) were recruited into this prospective study. Sonography of internal jugular venous ectasia in these patients revealed fusiform dilation of the internal jugular vein, and the possibility of thrombus and external compression could be ruled out. Marked variation in size of ectatic jugular veins during respiration was demonstrated under real-time sonography. The mean anteroposterior diameter of these dilated internal jugular veins was 0.79 ± 0.18 mm (mean ± standard deviation), which increased to 1.58 ± 0.27 mm with Valsalva maneuver. Our study showed that the anteroposterior diameters of the internal jugular veins in cases of ectasia were greater than those of contralateral jugular veins in same patients as well as those in normal children, and they showed greater increase after Valsalva maneuver. Under color Doppler flow studies, turbulent vascular flows were demonstrated in these patients with jugular venous ectasia. No progression of venous ectasia was found in any of our patients during a 6 month follow-up period. We conclude that internal jugular venous ectasia in children is a benign condition, which usually does not require surgical intervention. Ultrasonography is a good diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of internal jugular venous ectasia. Color Doppler ultrasonography demonstrate the turbulent flow in jugular venous ectasia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)411-416
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Ultrasound in Medicine
Volume18
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Color Doppler ultrasonography
  • Ectasia, internal jugular vein
  • Internal jugular venous ectasia
  • Vein, internal jugular

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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