Usefulness of ultrasonography and Doppler color flow imaging in the diagnosis of internal jugular phlebectasia.

A 20-year-old woman presented to our hospital for investigation of a left neck mass. Ultrasonographic examination of the jugular mass demonstrated an echo-free space, the caliber of which markedly increased when the patient shifted from the sitting to the recumbent position or performed a Valsalva maneuver. On color Doppler flow imaging, a slow flow signal flowing in the direction opposite to that of the common carotid artery was found within this space. Ultrasonography and color Doppler flow imaging thus proved to be useful for correctly diagnosing internal jugular phlebectasia.