Concomitant fenestration and phlebectasia of the right internal jugular vein: a unique finding in anatomical...

The internal jugular vein (IJV) is an important vascular structure for oncologists and radiologists and is also a frequently used central venous route. The varia-tions in the pattern of its course, and knowledge of its variations, are important. During the anatomical dissection of a 70-year-old male cadaver, fenestration involving a short segment (2.5 cm) of the right IJV in the superior part of the carotid triangle and a large dilatation (phlebectasia) of the IJV, involving its nonfenestrated segment were found - a case that has not previously been reported. The aetiology and clinical implications of the concurrent anomalies are described. Clinicians and surgeons performing neck vascular or reconstru-ctive surgery should be made aware of both IJV variations in order to prevent inadvertent injury and avoid invasive investigations and inappropriate treatment.