Diagnosis and treatment of jugular phlebectasia / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of jugular phlebectasia. Methods Clinical data of 13 patients with jugular phlebectasia were reviewed. The confirmation of diagnosis in the nature, range, and degree of jugular phlebectasia was made using the Valsalva maneuver, color ultrasonography, and enhancement radiological techniques. Except 2 patients with superior mediastinal tumor were transfered to the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the treatment included resection of phlebangioma in 5 patients, internal jugular vein dilatation by balloon catheter in 1 patient, jugular venoplasty in 1 patient, and conservative treatment with Aspirin in 4 patients. Results In 7 surgically treated patients, the postoperative recovery was uneventful and no complications occurred. The length of hospital stay was 2~7 days (mean, 3 d). Follow-up observations in the 7 patients for 3~32 months (mean, 14.4 months) found no recurrence and excellent cosmetic outcomes. In 4 patients receiving conservative therapy, follow-up observations were carried out for 3~55 months. No changes were observed in 3 asymptomatic patients on the dilatation extent of the internal jugular vein and the range of the lesions, while improvements were achieved in 1 patient with symptoms after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions The diagnosis of jugular phlebectasia should be made for the patients who presented with a soft cystic fluctuant mass on the anterior neck which became more prominent during the Valsalva manoeuvre. The confirmation of differential diagnoses in the nature, range and degree of jugular phlebectasia can be made by enhancement radiological examinations. Minimally invasive surgery is recommended for the patients with symptomatic and cosmetic purposes.