Internal Jugular Venous Ectasia in an Adult Female

Jugular phlebectasia refers to a saccular or fusiform dilatation of the neck veins. Phlebectasia involving the jugular veins is an entity which is diagnosed more commonly in children presenting with neck swellings, after ruling out other common causes. It is also called a venous aneurysm, venous ectasia or essential venous dilatation. This can affect all neck veins-internal jugular, external jugular, anterior jugular and superficial communicating veins in order of decreasing frequency. Although, various theories have been proposed, there is no general consensus among various authors regarding the cause for its occurrence. It is predominantly congenital in origin. The diagnosis is based on clinical presentation aided by non-invasive imaging modalities. The venous ectasia is being increasingly recognised due to advances in radiographic imaging. Management is mainly conservative and surgery is required only when complications arise. Here, authors present a case of venous ectasia in an adult female who presented with complaints of the presence of a vague swelling in her neck.