[Diagnosis of internal jugular vein thrombosis by x-ray computed tomography].

We made the diagnosis of internal jugular vein thrombosis by computed tomography in 3 cases. The CT diagnostic signs are the following: widening of the vein caliber, absence of opacification or nonhomogeneous aspect of the opacification of the lumen, and parietal contrast fixation. Classical and more recent etiology refers to cervico-facial infections and injuries, central venous catheterizations and local surgery, compression by a cervical mass, and use of oral contraceptives. The advantage of CT consists in its noninvasive contribution to defining a diagnosis that pathology, which is nonspecific (painful cervical tumefaction), often cannot reach.