Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein: a rare but important operative finding

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Free flap reconstruction following the surgical resection of head and neck malignancy optimally utilises the internal jugular vein as the main recipient vessel for venous anastamosis. We describe an unusual case of thrombosis having arisen de novo within the internal jugular vein and identified at the time of neck dissection. We believe this is the first case of this phenomenon in a patient without a history of thrombophilia, distant malignancy, or local invasion by tumour.