Clinical and radiological findings of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Objective To analyze the clinical and radiological characteristics of the cerebral venous sinus thrombosis(CVST).Methods Thirteen cases of clinically proved CVST were retrospectively analyzed,focused on the clinics,MRI,and CT findings.Results Among the 13 CVST cases,3 cases was involved in the transverse sinus,while 2 cases in the superior sagittal sinus,1 case in the sigmoid sinus,2 cases in the straight sinus.Both the transverse sinus and sigmoid sinus were involved in 4 cases and both the transverse sinus and sagittal sinus were involved in 1 case.According to the onset styles,acute onset 7 cases,subacute onset 4 cases,and chronic onset 2 cases.Plain CT scan showed venous sinus as density enhanced or as low density strip.Conventional MRI showed venous sinus signal was abnormal.The enhanced CT and MRI scan manifestated the sign of△orfilling defectin the sinus involved.Magnetic resonance venography(MRV)could directly display the involved cerebral venous sinuses becoming thinner,uncontinuously,filling defected or void as well as the compensatory circulation developing.Secondary cerebral damages occured in 13 cases,including cerebral swelling,hemorrhage and infarction.Conclusions To the patients with headache as the first symptom combined with intracranial hypertension,no matter with or without neurological symptoms,CVST should be considered.The combination of CT and MRI might be helpful to the early diagnosis.