Massive internal jugular vein tumor thrombus derived from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: two case reports

Tumor thrombosis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) is an extremely rare disease, and the reported cases have been exclusively associated with differentiated thyroid cancer. In the present study, we describe two cases of IJV tumor thrombosis originated from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is the first case report.Case 1 was a 67-year-old man diagnosed with advanced supraglottic SCC with a massive tumor thrombus in the IJV. He was treated with bio-radiotherapy followed by radical surgery. Case 2 was a 65-year-old woman who underwent radical surgery for SCC of thyroid with tumor thrombosis in the IJV.These cases rapidly developed local recurrences and distant metastases and died within 10 months after surgery.IJV tumor thrombosis originated from SCC apparently reflects extremely aggressive state of the tumor. Recognition and precaution to this condition is essential for the development of a clinically effective treatment strategy.