English

Abstract

Introduction: The knowledge of variations of veins of head and neck is of clinical importance. The aim of this report was to discuss the absence of the external jugular vein (EJV) and an abnormal drainage pattern in the veins of the neck. Case report: During routine dissection of the head and neck region, a unilateral variation in the formation and drainage pattern of veins was seen on the left side of an approximately 60-year-old male cadaver. The anterior division of the retromandibular vein joined the facial vein to form the common facial vein, which drained into the anterior jugular vein instead of the internal jugular vein. The posterior division of the retromandibular vein drained directly into the internal jugular vein. The retromandibular vein was unusually wide in calibre, and there was total absence of EJV. Since the EJV is frequently used for central venous cannulation as well as often examined by clinicians to assess the venous pressure in the right atrium, its absence may mislead the clinicians during these approaches. So the knowledge of variations in veins of head and neck is important for surgeons during head and neck surgery as well as for radiologists during catheterization and for clinicians in general. Conclusion: Absence of EJV and the abnormal pattern of drainage of veins in the neck reported here are very rare. Awareness of these venous variations is vital for the surgeons to avoid any intraoperative trial or error during surgical procedures and to prevent unnecessary bleeding.