title: Internal jugular vein thrombosis in a child due to a 'pencil point injury' of the palate.
abstract: Penetrating trauma of the soft and hard palate are common in children and have been termed 'pencil point injuries.' Although such injuries are usually minor, the English literature has reported over 25 cases complicated by thrombosis of the internal carotid artery. We describe an unusual case of a 6 year old girl who presented with fever, cervical swelling and torticollis, following a pencil point injury. Physical examination and CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT). The management of pencil point injuries and IJVT in children is reviewed and the possible mechanisms of IJVT in the case described here, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fliss
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peiser
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leiberman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D010159:Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging