Unilateral external jugular vein aneurysm in a dog

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Jugular vein abnormalities are uncommon in canine patients.
• Congenital vascular malformations can present with subtle or progressive clinical signs.
• Accurate diagnosis relies on advanced imaging techniques for vascular assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of a congenital external jugular venous aneurysm in a dog.
• To describe the diagnostic approach using multimodal imaging.
• To document the surgical and histopathological findings.

Main Methods:

• A case study involving an 11-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier with a two-month history of neck swelling.
• Diagnostic imaging included transdermal and transesophageal ultrasound, and dual-phase computed tomography angiography.
• Surgical excision and subsequent histopathological analysis were performed.

Main Results:

• Multimodal imaging revealed a large, saccular aneurysm of the left external jugular vein.
• No arteriovenous communication or cardiac abnormalities were detected.
• Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a congenital external jugular venous aneurysm.

Conclusions:

• Congenital external jugular venous aneurysms are a rare but possible diagnosis in young dogs presenting with unilateral neck swelling.
• Multimodal imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
• Surgical excision is a viable treatment option for symptomatic jugular vein aneurysms.