{"id":"5df8c38c-d65a-4eb2-a913-c672f53afeab","slug":"surgical-management-of-an-intraluminal-thrombus-in-the-external-jugular-vein-a-case-report-with-near-infrared-visualization-as-a-useful-adjunct","title":"Surgical management of an intraluminal thrombus in the external jugular vein: A case report with near-infrared visualization as a useful adjunct","authors":["Hideo Chihara","Yoshinori Maki","Yuji Agawa","Taketo Hatano"],"abstract":"Background: Surgical removal of a mass in the external jugular vein requires precise localization to ensure optimal cosmetic outcomes. While preoperative imaging is standard, intraoperative anatomical shifts can occur. We report a case where a near-infrared vein visualization device was used as a supplementary tool during the excision of an intraluminal thrombus. Case Description: A 50-year-old woman presented, complaining of a subcutaneous mass in the left neck. She used a sports bra for the previous 6 weeks to participate in a marathon race. Ultrasonography revealed an intraluminal mass arising from the venous wall of the left external jugular vein. This finding suggested that the mass could be a thrombus. An anticoagulant agent was initiated. However, the lesion was resistant to treatment and continued increasing. Therefore, we planned surgical removal of the subcutaneous mass. Before the design of a skin incision, we identified the subcutaneous mass using a near-infrared visualization device. The mass was accurately localized and dissected through a minimal 2-cm transverse skin incision. Pathological diagnosis was the combination of intravenous pyogenic granuloma and organized thrombus. There was no recurrence of the mass at the final follow-up of 2 years after surgery. Conclusion: We describe the successful removal of an intraluminal thrombus in the external jugular vein. Near-infrared vein visualization was found to be a useful adjunct in our experience.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5df8c38c-d65a-4eb2-a913-c672f53afeab/featured/hero-1781557623574.png","publishDate":"2026-04-24T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_1191_2025","categories":["General Neurosurgery","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/5df8c38c-d65a-4eb2-a913-c672f53afeab/pdf"}