Unilateral external jugular vein aneurysm in a dog

An 11-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier was referred with a two-month history of fluctuating unilateral jugular groove swelling, which appeared to enlarge after exercise. There was no history of trauma. Multimodal imaging findings (using transdermal and transesophageal ultrasound and dual phase computed tomography angiography) were consistent with large, saccular, left jugular vein aneurysm, running parallel to the left carotid artery. There did not appear to be any arteriovenous communication present. There were no cardiac abnormalities found on echocardiography. Following surgical excision, histopathological analysis supported the clinical suspicion of a congenital external jugular venous aneurysm.