I’ve recently been diagnosed with Eagle Syndrome following a CTA (arterial phase only) of the head and neck. I’ve read on this forum that sometimes there can be IJV compression, so I asked my doctor to order a venous phase CTA of the neck to see the veins. Here is a slice that seems to show compression of one of the IJVs. On the left side we have the sagittal plane at the location where the flattening of the vein is the worst. On the right side is the location of the narrowing in the axial plane. The yellow dashed line on the axial image corresponds to the location of the sagittal slice.
Does this look like compression or is it just a normal narrowing of the vein at that location?
Thanks for your advice (I’m also going to talk to a doctor about this obviously).
Welcome here to the forum. Well done with your Chatgpt consultation! Unfortunately, I think you are right here. Looks like Eagle Syndrome with severe internal jugular outflow obstruction to me, which i had myself.
You could also render your CT scans to a 3D model for more clarifyed view. Most people use free 3D Slicer software for that.
When it comes to treatments, I can only give you the advise to see a doctor specialized in JUGULAR Eagle-Syndrome, like Dr. Hepworth, to whom I came from Germany to get the right treatments - instead of having incomplete surgery attempts by lunatic doctors that only shorten the styloids to “normal length” and without special care for the compressed IJVs.
There is also Dr. Constantino and a few others that could be taken into consideration, but I only have personal experience with a good outcome with Dr. Hepworth that’s why I highly recommend him especially for Jugular Eagle-Syndrome. Further steps might be a IJV Ultrasound to determine the bloodflow velocities (s. Dr. Hepworth’s protocol for CTV - #4 by TheDude) an probability an MRI to see maybe pressure signs and vascular structures of head and neck.
I’m hoping you can find the best doctor for your condition. Traveling might be worth it.
I’m currently seeing Dr Osborne. From my understanding, unless it changed, he doesn’t do the C1 shaving that some people get. However, I’ve read that he removes the entire styloid so that should take care of compression in some cases? I’m seeing him soon to discuss this specifically.
Looks like it The report just came in this morning and the radiologist noted “severe narrowing/effacement” of the right IJV.
I agree that there’s definite compression, it does look as if it’s the C1 process causing quite a bit of it though. (The other side looks a bit flattened too?) Having the styloid removed might give enough space for the IJV to open back up again, but it might not be enough, & if so then you could need a revision surgery to do the C1 shave…Dr Osborne is a very good surgeon from what members have told us, but it’s worth getting a second opinion from one of the doctors who does a C1 shave as well… Dr Nakaji in AZ, Dr Hepworth in CO & Dr Costantino in NY are very experienced.
The report just came in this morning and the radiologist noted “severe narrowing/effacement” of the right IJV.