This study was aimed at evaluation of the diagnostic value of Doppler sonography for the assessment of abnormalities in the internal jugular veins (IJVs).

One hundred and sixteen IJVs were assessed in 58 patients with associated multiple sclerosis. Findings of Doppler sonography were compared with results of the reference test: catheter venography.

At least one positive extracranial sonographic criterion suggesting venous abnormality was found in 92.2% of the assessed veins. Yet, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of sonography were low: 93.4%, 12.0%, 79.4% and 33.3% for at least one positive criterion, and for at least two positive criteria: 29.3%, 75.0%, 81.8% and 21.7%, respectively.

Our research has shown that currently used extracranial sonographic criteria for the detection of obstructive venous abnormalities in the IJVs are of limited diagnostic value. For the time being, diagnosis of this vascular pathology should be given using catheter venography.