A case report of a rare, spontaneous external jugular vein aneurysm

Compared to arterial aneurysms, venous pseudoaneurysms are rare and even more rare are external jugular vein aneurysms (EJV). To our knowledge, there are less than 10 well-documented cases of EJV aneurysms accessible.

Our patient is a 75 year old hispanic female who noticed a painless right neck mass two months prior. Ultrasound confirmed a cystic mass of unknown etiology containing doppler flow. Excisional biopsy revealed an EJV aneurysm with pathologic results of: blood, calcified debris, and a vessel wall consistent with EJV pseudoaneurysm.

EJV aneurysms are clinically rare compared to IJV aneurysms. Recent trauma, cardiovascular disease and age are reported to be the highest significant clinical risk factors in the formation of jugular vein aneurism (JVA). The absence of trauma in our patient is noteworthy because it eliminates a direct contributor to a normally low-pressure vessel.

Despite their rarity, spontaneous EJV aneurisms should be included in the differential of the elderly hypertensive patient who is presenting with a painless mass of the lateral neck that has cystic appearance and ultrasound findings of doppler flow.