Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Apr;9(8):718.
doi: 10.21037/atm-20-7698.

Styloidogenic-cervical spondylotic internal jugular venous compression, a vascular disease related to several clinical neurological manifestations: diagnosis and treatment-a comprehensive literature review

Alba Scerrati  1   2 , Nicoló Norri  1 , Lorenzo Mongardi  1 , Flavia Dones  1 , Luca Ricciardi  3 , Gianluca Trevisi  4 , Erica Menegatti  2   5 , Paolo Zamboni  2   5 , Michele Alessandro Cavallo  1   2 , Pasquale De Bonis  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Styloidogenic-cervical spondylotic internal jugular venous compression, a vascular disease related to several clinical neurological manifestations: diagnosis and treatment-a comprehensive literature review

Alba Scerrati et al. Ann Transl Med. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Internal jugular vein (IJV) stenosis is associated with several central nervous system disorders such as Ménière or Alzheimer's disease. The extrinsic compression between the styloid process and the C1 transverse process, is an emerging biomarker related to several clinical manifestations. However, nowadays a limited number of cases are reported, and few information are available about treatment, outcome and complications. Our aim is to collect and identify clinical-radiological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of the styloidogenic internal jugular venous compression. We performed a comprehensive literature review. Studies reporting patients suffering from extracranial jugular stenosis were searched. For every patient we collected: demography, clinical and radiological characteristics and outcome, type of treatment, complications. Thirteen articles reporting 149 patients were included. Clinical presentation was non-specific. Most frequent symptoms were headache (46.3%), tinnitus (43.6%), insomnia (39.6%). The stenosis was monolateral in 51 patients (45.9%) and bilateral in 60 (54.1%). Anticoagulants were the most common prescribed drug (57.4%). Endovascular treatment was performed in 50 patients (33.6%), surgery in 55 (36.9%), combined in 28 (18.8%). Improvement of general conditions was reported in 58/80 patients (72.5%). Complications were reported in 23% of cases. Jugular stenosis is a complex and often underestimated disease. Conservative medical treatment usually fails while surgical, endovascular or a combined treatment improves general conditions in more than 70% of patients.

Keywords: C1 transverse process; Eagle jugular syndrome; elongated styloid process; internal jugular vein (IJV); jugular stenosis; styloidogenic jugular compression.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-20-7698). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A patient suffering from the Eagle Jugular Syndrome. The internal jugular vein is impinged between the styloid process and the arch of C1 (yellow circle). (A) CT angio axial cut; (B) CT angio sagittal cut; (C) 3D reconstruction of the CT angio; (D) Oblique view.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow chart of the data selection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Chung CP, Hsu HY, Chao AC, et al. Transient global amnesia: cerebral venous outflow impairment-insight from the abnormal flow patterns of the internal jugular vein. Ultrasound Med Biol 2007;33:1727-35. 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2007.05.018 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hsu HY, Chao AC, Chen YY, et al. Reflux of jugular and retrobulbar venous flow in transient monocular blindness. Ann Neurol 2008;63:247-53. 10.1002/ana.21299 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Nedelmann M, Kaps M, Mueller-Forell W. Venous obstruction and jugular valve insufficiency in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Neurol 2009;256:964-9. 10.1007/s00415-009-5056-z - DOI - PubMed
    1. Chung CP, Beggs C, Wang PN, et al. Jugular venous reflux and white matter abnormalities in Alzheimer’s disease: a pilot study. J Alzheimers Dis 2014;39:601-9. 10.3233/JAD-131112 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Zamboni P, Galeotti R, Salvi F, et al. Effects of Venous Angioplasty on Cerebral Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: Expanded Analysis of the Brave Dreams Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial. J Endovasc Ther 2020;27:1526602819890110. 10.1177/1526602819890110 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources