Suppurative Thrombophlebitis of the External Jugular Vein Treated by Surgical Excision: A Case Report

• Suppurative thrombophlebitis should be strongly considered in patients with swelling, warmth, and a palpable cord in an area near a source of known infection. • Suppurative thrombophlebitis should also be considered in cases in which a primary infection is not directly adjacent to a clinically suspicious vascular structure if the patient also has bacteremia. • Surgical excision of peripheral suppurative thrombophlebitis is an effective treatment, though medical management should be attempted first for suppurative thrombophlebitis of central veins. Suppurative or septic thrombophlebitis (STP) is a rare condition resulting from infection of a venous thrombus, typically in the presence of an intravenous catheter. Other causes include the spread of adjacent infections, sepsis, and even spontaneous thrombi formation. STP of the external jugular vein is rare with a few case reports scattered throughout the years, with most focusing on medical management. The role of surgical intervention is more controversial. We present an intriguing case of a 38-year-old male who presented with a right sided external jugular SPT of unclear etiology that was successfully managed with surgical excision.