[Diagnosis and treatment of jugular vein thrombosis]

Thromboses in the head and neck region are rare events, particularly in the internal jugular vein. However, they can result in potentially hazardous complications. Possible triggers are inflammatory, traumatic, and (para-)neoplastic diseases. Clinical symptoms often are non-specific, and it is thus important to even consider the possibility of an internal jugular vein thrombosis. Sonography is the diagnostic tool of choice, which can be complemented by CT/MRI if necessary. Depending on the individual etiology, antithrombotic treatment including modern direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) is advisable. In cases of sepsis, surgery is mandatory to control the focus. However, there is hardly any evidence concerning this unusual problem due to the low incidence.