PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sanborn, Matthew
AU  - Koury, Matthew
AU  - Maity, Alisha
AU  - Ali, Zonera
TI  - A Rare Cause of Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis: Deep Tissue Massage
AID  - 10.31486/toj.25.0002
DP  - 2025 Sep 21
TA  - Ochsner Journal
PG  - 199--200
VI  - 25
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/25/3/199.short
4100  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/25/3/199.full
SO  - Ochsner J2025 Sep 21; 25
AB  - Background Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis accounts for a small percentage of all deep vein thrombosis cases, and internal jugular vein thrombosis is a rare subset within that category. Typically, internal jugular vein thrombosis is found in patients with predisposing risk factors such as infections, local trauma secondary to venous catheterization, intravenous drug use, and malignancy.Case Report We describe the case of a patient with no typical risk factors for thrombus formation who developed internal jugular vein thrombosis following a deep tissue massage with a focus on the neck area. The patient developed right arm pain shortly after the massage, prompting her to present to the emergency department. Ultrasound revealed a nonocclusive thrombus in the right internal jugular vein. The patient was started on rivaroxaban, and her symptoms resolved.Conclusion Deep tissue massage is not a well-established cause of internal jugular vein thrombosis. This case emphasizes the importance of obtaining a thorough patient history to assess for uncommon traumatic causes of internal jugular vein thrombosis.