2026 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 138-142
Introduction: Styloidogenic jugular venous compression syndrome (SJVCS) is a relatively rare condition in which the internal jugular vein (IJV) is compressed between an elongated styloid process (SP) and the lateral tubercle of the first cervical vertebra (C1) , resulting in impaired intracranial venous outflow. It can present with symptoms resembling intracranial hypertension (IH) and may be overlooked as a cause of chronic headache.
Case Presentation: A 45-year-old man with no significant medical history presented with a three-year history of progressively worsening headache, dizziness, right-sided neck pain, pulsatile tinnitus, pharyngeal discomfort during swallowing, and blurred vision. Neurological examination revealed no focal deficits; however, his symptoms were reproducible with left cervical rotation. Comprehensive evaluations excluded autonomic dysfunction, subclavian steal syndrome, orthostatic hypotension, and carotidynia. Computed tomographic venography demonstrated stenosis of the IJV between the SP and the lateral tubercle of C1, leading to a diagnosis of SJVCS. A transcervical styloidectomy was performed, and postoperative imaging confirmed complete decompression of the IJV. The postoperative course was uneventful, and his symptoms gradually improved.
Conclusion: SJVCS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic headache, particularly when accompanied by symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension, such as visual disturbances and tinnitus.
