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Duplication of the external jugular vein: a language barrier of database search in classic anatomical studies

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A Correction to this article was published on 15 April 2021

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Abstract

Objective

Many anatomical variations of the superficial veins of the head and neck have been reported throughout the literature. Accordingly, anatomists and surgeons must have a comprehensive understanding of these variations to avoid confusion. Duplication of the external jugular vein (EJV) is occasionally observed during routine cadaveric dissections; however, this variation seems to be reported less often than actual experience suggests. Therefore, to gain a better understanding of its anatomical and clinical implications, an analysis of the available data should be available. Thus, in this article, we reviewed the current available literature for studies reporting duplication of the EJV.

Methods

We conducted a search using PubMed and Google Scholar with the following keywords: “duplication of the external jugular vein,” “division of the external jugular vein,” and “fenestration of the external jugular vein,” “double external jugular vein,” and “doubled external jugular vein.” As a case illustration, we also describe a case of a duplicated EJV found during a right neck dissection of a female cadaver.

Results

Twenty sides across sixteen different studies were analyzed including the present case. All studies were published between 2009 and 2020. EJV division patterns were classified as either duplication, fenestration, fenestration followed by duplication, or double fenestrations.

Conclusions

We have reviewed the literature regarding cases documenting duplication/fenestration of the EJV. As it is often difficult to find recent studies that report on classic anatomical variations, therefore, revisiting older articles and textbooks is necessary for achieving a “comprehensive” review, especially across different languages.

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Acknowledgement

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [16].

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan

    Kisho Ono, Norie Yoshioka & Soichiro Ibaragi

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Dany Hage, R. Shane Tubbs & Joe Iwanaga

  3. Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs & Joe Iwanaga

  4. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    R. Shane Tubbs

  5. Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  6. Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  7. Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

  8. Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga

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  1. Kisho Ono
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Contributions

KO: data collection, data analysis, and manuscript writing; NY: data analysis, and manuscript writing; DH: data analysis and manuscript editing; SI: data analysis and manuscript editing; RST: protocol/project development and manuscript editing; JI: protocol/project development, data collection, and manuscript editing.

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Correspondence to Joe Iwanaga.

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In the original online publication of the article, there is an error in Table 1. Publication year of the Ponnambalam and Karuppiah [26] is shown as "202,019." This is supposed to be "2020”. The original article has been corrected.

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Ono, K., Yoshioka, N., Hage, D. et al. Duplication of the external jugular vein: a language barrier of database search in classic anatomical studies. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1721–1728 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02717-6

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