Dilated neck veins

Dilated neck veins, or distended jugular veins, refer to the noticeable enlargement or swelling of the veins in the neck, which can signal elevated pressure within the venous system. While not exclusively linked to Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS), other conditions may also cause this symptom:

1. Heart Failure: When the heart cannot pump effectively, blood backs up into the veins, leading to increased pressure and dilated neck veins.
2. Tricuspid Valve Disorders: Conditions like tricuspid valve regurgitation can result in blood flowing back into the veins, causing them to swell.
3. Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) can restrict the heart’s ability to function properly, leading to increased venous pressure.
4. Pulmonary Hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs can cause the right side of the heart to struggle, resulting in distended neck veins.
5. Cardiac Tamponade: Accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac can compress the heart and hinder venous return, leading to dilated neck veins.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology