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Anatomical variations in the superficial venous system of the neck: an image-based study using contrast-enhanced computed tomography

  • Anatomic Variations
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Abstract

Purpose

The superficial venous system (SVS) of the neck receives blood from the face and oral cavity. The SVS comprises the anterior jugular vein (AJV), external jugular vein (EJV), and facial vein (FV). Comprehensive knowledge of the normal anatomy and potential variations in the venous system is valuable in surgical and radiological procedures. This study aimed to update the anatomic knowledge of the SVS using a radiographic approach, which is a beneficial data source in clinical practice.

Methods

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography images of the neck of patients with head and neck cancer treated between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Each side of the neck was counted separately. A total of 302 necks of 151 patients were enrolled in this study.

Results

The medial AJV was absent in 49.7% (75/151) of the patients on the left side, which was significantly greater than the 19.2% (29/151) on the right (p < 0.001). The left AJV drained into the right venous system in 6.6% (10/151) of the necks. In 48.3% (146/302) of the necks, the FV did not flow into the internal jugular vein but rather into the EJV or AJV; these findings were significantly more frequent than those reported in previous studies. The diameters of the veins were significantly larger when they received blood from the FV than when they were not connected to the FV.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the AJV has a rightward preference during its course. The course of the FV is diverse and affects the diameter of connected veins.

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Data availability

Dataset is available on request to the author for sole purpose of validating the present study.

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Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-Ku, Shogoin Kawahara-Cho 54, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

    Keigo Honda, Koichi Omori & Yo Kishimoto

Authors
  1. Keigo Honda
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  2. Koichi Omori
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  3. Yo Kishimoto
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Contributions

K Honda: Project development, Data collection, Data analysis, Manuscript writing; K Omori: Project development, Supervision, critical appraisal; Y Kishimoto: Project development.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keigo Honda.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Kyoto University Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee (R3255-1).

Patient consent

The Ethics Committee waived the requirement for obtaining written consent from each patient because of the study’s retrospective, noninvasive, and personally unidentifiable nature.

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Honda, K., Omori, K. & Kishimoto, Y. Anatomical variations in the superficial venous system of the neck: an image-based study using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Surg Radiol Anat (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03326-9

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