Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an important etiology of stroke. Cerebral and dural vein thromboses are less common than other stroke subtypes and manifest with myriad neurological symptoms, making CVT a challenging diagnosis. This chapter reviews epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapeutic approaches, complications, and prognosis of CVT. CVT has highly variable manifestations and clinical presentations. In patients with suspected venous thrombosis, the demonstration of absence of venous flow by magnetic resonance or computed tomography (CT) venography confirms the diagnosis of CVT. Magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT) venography may be obtained for diagnosis of CVT. Treatment of CVT involves anticoagulation. The immediate goals of treatment of patients with CVT should always include hemodynamic and neurological stabilization, including assessment of airway patency. The range of symptoms may vary from headache, focal neurological deficits, change in vision, focal or generalized seizure, or encephalopathy and coma.
