EVALUATION OF FUNCTION OF INTERNAL JUGULAR VEIN FOLLOWING FUNCTIONAL NECK DISSECTION AND RADIOTHERAPY

¹Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 4.KBB Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
²Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 2.Radyoloji Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye Functions of the internal jugular vein were investigated following functional neck dissection in 22 sides of 16 patients with laryngeal carcinoma. The internal jugular vein functions were evaluated using coloured doppler ultrasonography in postoperative 6th week, 6th month and following radiotherapy. There was partial thrombus in one patient in the postoperative 6th week. There was no thrombus in any of the patients in the postoperative 6th month. The diameter of the internal jugular vein, the characteristics of the vein wall, flow rate and revascularisation were normal in the postoperative 6th month and following radiotherapy. The internal jugular vein functions following functional neck dissection were shown to be in normal limits by coloured doppler ultrasonography in early and late postoperative periods. It was also concluded that radiotherapy did not cause any significant alteration in the functions of the internal jugular vein. Keywords : Jugular veins, neck dissection, radiotherapy, doppler ultrasonography