Jugular venous thrombosis: diagnosis by computed tomography.

Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein (TIJV) was diagnosed by CT in five patients. Clinical presentations included unexplained fever (four patients), swollen neck (three patients), and mediastinal widening (one patient). Factors contributing to TIJV included placement of a central venous catheter (three patients) and neck surgery (two patients). In two patients left TIJV occurred after right sided venous catheterization. The CT findings consisted of enlargement of the thrombosed vein, a nonenhancing filling defect in the lumen of the affected vessel, an enhancing vessel wall, and opacification of collateral venous channels.