Congenital internal jugular venous aneurysm: diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis, preoperative work-up, and treatment of a neck mass can be extensive and complex. We report a case of an adolescent female who presented with a soft compressible mass in her neck that became more prominent during phonation (singing). Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed this mass to be an isolated dilation of the internal jugular vein. The patient subsequently underwent an uncomplicated cosmetic excision of a large venous aneurysm. We recommend dynamic MRI as a useful noninvasive exam in the preoperative evaluation of this rare entity.