Normal sizes of internal jugular veins in children/adolescents aged birth to 18 years at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to establish normal ultrasonographic (US) values of internal jugular vein (IJV) sizes in children/adolescents aged birth to 18 years and to determine the correlation of US measurements with age, height, weight and body surface area (BSA) of children in different age groups.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty-six healthy children (0-18 years) were divided into four groups according to their age (0-2, 3-6, 7-12, and 13-18 years). US measurements (transverse, anteroposterior diameter, and cross-sectional area at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver) of bilateral IJVs were taken at the level of cricoid cartilage.


RESULTS
Our study gives information about the reference values in children between birth to 18 years of age. There were significant differences between measurements taken at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver in all age groups. Moderate to strong correlations (clinically significant) between age, height and BSA of the subjects and IJV measurements were detected only in the 0-2 years age group. The strength of the correlations decreased with increasing age. Pearson's correlation revealed that height had the strongest and weight had the weakest correlation with US measurements. 'Height' was an independent variable on the right, and 'age' on the left side, except for rest CSA, when a regression analysis was performed for clinically significant correlations.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of normal reference values for US measurements of the IJV and knowledge of correlation with age, height, weight and BSA might be valuable during interventional procedures and for the diagnosis of phlebectasia in children/adolescents.
Dr. Sami Ulus Women and Children's Hospital, Radiology Department, Babür Caddesi No:4, 06080 Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: yucelsecil@yahoo.com.
Ayse Secil
AS
Eksioglu
Dr. Sami Ulus Women and Children's Hospital, Radiology Department, Babür Caddesi No:4, 06080 Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ytasciyildizl@yahoo.com.
Yasemin
Y
Tasci Yildiz
Dr. Sami Ulus Women and Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Babür Caddesi No:4, 06080 Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drsaliha007@yahoo.com.tr.
Saliha
S
Senel
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver / Q000502:physiology*
Children; Jugular phlebectasia; Jugular vein; Ultrasound; Valsalva maneuver; Vein diameter