Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis as unusual cause of headache: case report

Headache is the most frequent symptom in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. However, patients presenting with headache due to cerebral venous thrombosis are uncommon. The association between oral contraceptives and cerebral venous thrombosis is well known. We report the case of a young woman who was admitted to our department for sudden onset of headache. She had been taking oral contraceptives for 6 months. Early pharmacological approach with analgesics failed to elleviate symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed thrombosis of the posterior and middle thirds of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Because the patient was oligosymptomatic, medical treatment with high-dose heparin was started. A clinical follow-up showed headache regression after 2 weeks of therapy. Subsequent MRI showed partial recanalization of the SSS. The patient continued oral anticoagulants for 3 months. Eighteen months after discharge, the patient was symptom-free. We conclude that new, persistent or atypical headaches in patients taking oral contraceptives should be carefully evaluated for cerebral venous thrombosis. Received: 9 May 2001 / Accepted in revised form: 4 September 2001     

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in the Emergency Department: Retrospective Analysis of 17 Cases and Review of the Literature

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but serious cause of neurologic impairment. Due to its relative rarity, there is limited research that describes the incidence and clinical features of CVST in the emergency department (ED). Objectives: To describe the demographic, clinical, and historical characteristics of patients with CVST who were initially seen in the ED. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all patients presenting to three urban, tertiary care hospitals between January 2001 and December 2005 who were diagnosed with CVST. Patients were excluded if they were transferred from other hospitals, or admitted directly to the hospital without evaluation in the ED. We use one representative case to describe the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of CVST. Results: Seventeen patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients had a mean age of 42 years. Presenting complaints included headache (70%), focal neurologic complaints (numbness, weakness, aphasia) (29%), seizure (24%), and head injury (12%). Ninety-four percent of patients had a focal neurologic finding in the ED. A likely contributing cause of thrombosis was identified in all but one patient. More than half of the patients had been evaluated in the ED in the previous 60 days. Two patients died, both as a result of their thrombosis and resulting cerebral infarctions and edema. Of the patients who survived, 80% had a good functional outcome. Conclusions: CVST is rare, but it can have significant associated morbidity and mortality. Whereas the clinical outcome and functional outcomes of treated patients can vary, prompt recognition of the disease is important.     

Headache and seizure in a young woman postpartum

A 19-year-old woman, 8 days postpartum, presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a chief complaint of headache, decreased vision, and agitation. Past medical history was unremarkable. Physical examination was remarkable only for dry mucous membranes, decreased visual acuity, and trace pedal edema bilaterally. While in the ED, the patient experienced a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head was suspicious for venous infarction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR venography revealed sagittal sinus and left transverse sinus thrombosis. The risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of cerebral venous thrombosis are reviewed.     

Diagnosis and treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis

Dural sinus or cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a frequently unrecognized cause of stroke affecting predominantly young women. Typical clinical signs include headache, visual problems and seizures. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance venous angiography are suitable for the detection of CVT, although magnetic resonance angiography is more sensitive to detect small cortical venous thrombosis. Evidence for efficacy of initial treatment with heparin in acute CVT comes from two randomized placebo-controlled studies that together included 79 patients. Although not evidence-based, postacute treatment with oral anticoagulation is recommended for up to 12 months after CVT. Long-term anticoagulation is recommended only in patients suffering from a severe coagulopathy or with recurrent CVT.     

A 21-year-old white woman diagnosed with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis related to oral contraceptive and Factor V Leiden

Empirical research has established the fact that the use of oral contraceptives in young women with the Factor V Leiden mutation increases the relative risk of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare cerebral vascular injury whose ambiguous presentation contributes to delayed and often-inaccurate diagnosis. This case report presents a 21-year-old White woman with a severe headache who presented to the emergency department and was diagnosed with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The purpose of this article is to educate advanced practice emergency care nurses on the importance of understanding genetic and acquired risk factors in diagnosing cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. A genetic risk assessment tool is introduced that advanced practice nurses may incorporate into their routine assessments to evaluate the likelihood of a genetic predisposition for illness, such as shown in this case study.     

Headache attributed neurosurgical diseases

When we see headache patients, it is most important thing that we rule out patients with intracranial diseases. Intracranial diseases with headache are so many. I'd like to emphasize some intracranial diseases with headache not to miss. Especially subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured cerebral aneurysm is a serious disease not to miss. Recently the cases of dissecting cerebral aneurysm (vertebral artery) and venous/sinus thrombosis are increasing with spreading MRI/MRA examination. And brain tumors and chronic subdural hematoma is a serious disease not to miss in recent Japanese aging society. I'd like to mention these important diseases with headache.     

以孤立性头痛为主要表现的颅内静脉窦血栓1例并文献复习

目的 探讨本病的病因、临床表现、影像学特征、治疗方法.方法 回顾性分析1例以反复孤立性头痛为主要表现的颅内静脉窦血栓病例,并复习相关文献.结果 患者男性,28岁,主因头痛10天,加重4天入院.头部MRI平扫+增强提示左侧乙状窦及横窦充盈缺损,T1及Flair呈高信号.数字减影血管造影证实为左侧横窦、乙状窦血栓.经抗感染...     

20例脑静脉(窦)血栓形成的早期诊断与治疗分析

目的：分析脑静脉窦血栓形成（CVT）的早期诊断及治疗方法。方法：回顾分析20例（男性11例，女性9例）CVT病人的发病年龄、可能病因、临床表现、影像学特征、脑脊液检查结果与治疗方法。结果：（1）年龄多在20-40岁；（2）多数病例为急性起病，病情逐渐进展；（3）病因多样；（4）早期表现为头痛（85％）、呕吐（60％），伴或不伴局灶性神经功能缺损或癫痫发作；（5）影像学表现为静脉窦闭塞及静脉性梗死灶（40％）；（6）脑脊液压力明显升高（83．3％），白细胞及蛋白含量正常或升高；（7）对因及脱水治疗基础上行抗凝治疗14例、溶栓1例，5例重症患者预后不佳。结论对临床急性起病的头痛、呕吐、伴或不伴局灶性神经功能缺损及癫痫发作的年轻病人，应高度怀疑CVT，及时行MRI及磁共振静脉血管造影（MRv）联合检查，早期明确诊断，尽可能地检查和控制潜在病因，尽早开始抗凝治疗。对重症及经肝素治疗无效的病例建议局部静脉窭内溶栓治疗。     

Atypical MRI Findings of Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Pregnancy: Clinical Significance Relating to Episodic Vascular Headache

Two cases of headache during pregnancy were associated with MRI findings suggestive of venous sinus thrombosis. The findings, however, were atypical, and of uncertain clinical significance. Venous sinus thrombosis typically does not occur during the first and second trimesters (less than 10 percent of reported cases). Thus, these two cases are doubly unusual. The correct significance of these equivocal MRI findings of possible venous sinus thrombosis must be understood so that unnecessary and potentially harmful therapies are not employed, and so that appropriate management of what may otherwise be a typical vascular headache syndrome may be undertaken.     

Validation of the Canadian Clinical Probability Model for Acute Venous Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: To validate the predictive value of the Canadian clinical probability model for acute venous thrombosis, which, to the best of the authors' knowledge, has not been done in emergency department (ED) settings outside of Canada. METHODS: Demographic and clinical information, rapid D-dimer testing, and venous ultrasound imaging were obtained among patients presenting with clinically suspected venous thrombosis at a university-affiliated ED. A diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was made based on venous ultrasound test results or objectively documented venous thromboembolism during a 12-week follow-up period. The probability of venous thrombosis was calculated using the Canadian clinical probability model. RESULTS: Among 102 patients, 17 (17%) were diagnosed as having venous thrombosis initially or during the three-month follow-up period. The frequency of venous thrombosis among patients categorized as having high probability was 10 of 17 [59%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 35% to 82%], 6 of 44 (14%, 95% CI = 4% to 24%) with intermediate probability, and 1 of 41 (2%, 95% CI = 0.1% to 11%) with low probability. This compares with respective values of 49%, 14%, and 3%, reported by Canadian researchers in an ED study. Forty-one of 102 (40%) patients had an alternate diagnosis as likely or more likely than venous thrombosis, but only three (7%, 95% CI = 2% to 18%) of these had venous thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the Canadian probability model for DVT in this ED resulted in effective risk stratification, comparable to previously published results.     

Behcet's Disease: Presentation With Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis Diagnosed Noninvasively

The standard evaluation of patients with intracranial hypertension frequently does not reveal a discrete pathophysiologic process, leading in these cases to classification of the syndrome as "benign." We present a 35-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri who presented with headache, emesis, and blurring of vision. Her symptoms were progressive despite two lumbar punctures that revealed normal cerebrospinal fluid under high pressure. Contrast and noncontrast CT scans were normal; both the cerebrospinal fluid and CT neuroimaging were thus consistent with benign intracranial hypertension. An MRI, however, supported the presence of sagittal sinus thrombosis, a finding which was confirmed by MR venography. Further workup for an underlying cause of sinus thrombosis disclosed symptoms and signs fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for Behcet's disease. Cerebral venous (or sinus) thrombosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial hypertension. Behcet's disease, while extremely rare, should be considered as a potential cause of cerebral venous thrombosis. Magnetic resonance venography can serve as a useful diagnostic study in situations where confirmation or exclusion of sinus thrombosis is required.     

脑静脉（窦）血栓形成的MRI和MRV诊断价值

目的探讨脑静脉血栓（CVT）和静脉窦血栓（CVST）形成磁共振成像（MRI）和磁共振静脉系成像（MRV）的特征。方法回顾性分析经磁共振诊断和临床治疗的58例脑静脉（窦）血栓病人的资料。全部有MRI平扫,其中39例有2DPC法MRV成像,观察脑静脉窦、脑静脉内和脑实质内信号改变。结果脑静脉窦血栓49例：单独静脉窦血栓31例,8例合并浅静脉血栓,其中3例合并出血;4例合并脑深静脉血栓;6例同时合并深、浅静脉血栓。单独脑深静脉血栓9例。结论 MRI结合MRV是诊断脑静脉（窦）血栓首选和最有效而又无损伤的检查方法。     

重症颅内静脉窦血栓形成的血管内治疗

目的:探讨重症颅内静脉窦血栓形成(CVST)血管内介入治疗方法的选择及其疗效。方法:根据10例重症CVST患者的病情采用经静脉接触性溶栓术、机械性破栓术、静脉窦内支架置入术及动脉溶栓术中的1种或多种。结果:10例患者均采用经静脉接触性溶栓术,其中2例联用机械性破栓术,2例联用静脉窦内支架置入术,4例联用动脉溶栓术。术后仅1例出现血管内治疗相关并发症(脑内血肿)。出院时,10例患者GCS评分均达15分,临床症状均改善,闭塞的静脉窦均再通。平均随访12个月,所有患者腰穿压力均恢复正常,未出现血栓再形成和新的神经系统症状。结论:对重症CVST患者积极采用合理的血管内介入治疗是有效的。     

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare and potentially deadly condition. Common etiologies include hypercoagulable diseases, low flow states, dehydration, adjacent infectious processes, oral contraceptives, hormonal replacement therapy, pregnancy, and puerperium. Symptoms include nausea, seizures, severe focal neurological deficits, coma, and headache (the most common presenting symptom). Anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment for CVST. Transvenous clot lysis can be performed using injected thrombolytic agents and specialized catheters for clot retrieval.     

Treatment of progressive cerebral sinuses thrombosis with local thrombolysis

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a potentially serious disease, with nonspecific clinical symptoms and an unpredictable outcome. Despite adequate anticoagulation, a patient's clinical condition can rapidly deteriorate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of local thrombolysis in these patients. Consecutive patients with progressive cerebral venous thrombosis between October 2008 and January 2011 were enrolled prospectively. Progressive CVT was defined as the persistence of neurologic findings (headache, blurred vision, and visual field defects) despite at least four days (or 48 hours in patients with involvement of more than one sinus) on full anticoagulation therapy with heparin and development of focal neurologic deficits or cortical hemorrhage. We excluded patients with large hematomas and predisposing malignancies like leukemia. All patients underwent local thrombolysis with 30 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Overall, 26 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 35.5 years (range 18 to 56 years). Six patients (23%) were male and twenty patients (77%) were female. The most common presenting feature was headache and the most common neurologic finding was papilledema, which was present in all patients. Eighty-five percent of women had a history of oral contraceptive pill consumption. Successful recanalization was achieved in all patients except one (96.2%). Neurological examinations and follow-up assessments were based on a modified Rankin scale (mRS). Favorable outcome and recovery was defined as a mRS score of 0-1. Follow-up assessments at the third week showed that 25 out of 26 recovered, with 18 having a mRS score of 0 and 7 with a mRS score of 1. There were no procedure-related neurological complications. Our results show that local thrombolysis is a safe and effective treatment modality for patients suffering from progressive CVT.     

硬脑膜静脉窦血栓的影像学诊断对比研究

目的：探讨磁共振各序列及CT在诊断脑硬膜静脉窦血栓中的价值。方法：20例经MRI及MRV（其中15例曾行CT检查）诊断为脑静脉窦血栓的病人，着重观察静脉窦内异常信号、脑肿胀、脑实质内异常信号及有无乳突炎等。结果：15例行CT扫描病人中，7例可见脑内异常密度影，1例可见上矢状窦增宽，有高密度影充填，MRV显示上矢状窦血栓11例，上矢状窦合并横窦、直窦或乙状窦血栓7例，左横窦及乙状窦血栓1例，右侧乙状窦血栓1例。SE序列显示脑实质内异常信号8例。显示上矢状窦、横窦、乙状窦高信号影14例。结论：硬膜窦内高信号影可提示本病，而MRV与原始图像结合在诊断静脉窦血栓及随访观察中有极大的价值，T1WI在显示脑肿胀、出血等方面优于T2WI，但T2WI对于乳突炎的显示又明显优于其他序列。磁共振检查的优越性是CT及血管造影所不及的。     

颅内静脉窦和脑静脉血栓形成的临床和影像学诊断探讨

目的探讨诊断颅内静脉窦和脑静脉血栓形成的方法。方法对 6例颅内静脉窦和脑静脉血栓形成的临床及影像学资料进行分析。结果患者多表现颅内高压征象 ,伴有全脑症状或局灶神经功能异常。头颅MRI及磁共振静脉成像 (MRV)诊断颅内静脉窦和脑静脉血栓形成有肯定的价值 ,而血管数字减影 (DSA)是诊断该病的最可靠手段。结论根据临床表现及影像学检查可确诊颅内静脉窦和脑静脉血栓形成。     

Use of the Emergency Department for Severe Headache. A Population-Based Study

Background.— Although headache is a common emergency department (ED) chief complaint, the role of the ED in the management of primary headache disorders has rarely been assessed from a population perspective. We determined frequency of ED use and risk factors for use among patients suffering severe headache. Methods.— As part of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study, a validated self‐administered questionnaire was mailed to 24,000 severe headache sufferers, who were randomly drawn from a larger sample constructed to be sociodemographically representative of the US population. Participants were asked a series of questions on headache management, healthcare system use, sociodemographic features, and number of ED visits for management of headache in the previous 12 months. In keeping with the work of others, “frequent” ED use was defined as a particpant's report of 4 or more visits to the ED for treatment of a headache in the previous 12 months. Headaches were categorized into specific diagnoses using a validated methodology. Results.— Of 24,000 surveys, 18,514 were returned, and 13,451 (56%) provided complete data on ED use. Sociodemographic characteristics did not differ substantially between responders and nonresponders. Among the 13,451 responders, over the course of the previous year, 12,592 (94%) did not visit the ED at all, 415 (3%) visited the ED once, and 444 (3%) visited the ED more than once. Patients with severe episodic tension‐type headache were less likely to use the ED than patients with severe episodic migraine (OR 0.4 [95% CI: 0.3, 0.6]). Frequent ED use was reported by 1% of the total sample or 19% (95% CI: 17%, 22%) of subjects who used the ED in the previous year, although frequent users accounted for 51% (95% CI: 49%, 53%) of all ED visits. Predictors of ED use included markers of disease severity, elevated depression scores, low socioeconomic status, and a predilection for ED use for conditions other than headache. Conclusions.— Most individuals suffering severe headaches do not use the ED over the course of a single year. The majority of ED visits for severe headache are accounted for by a small subset of all ED users. Increasing disease severity and depression are the most readily addressable factors associated with ED use.     

Headache in cerebral venous thrombosis: incidence, pattern and location in 200 consecutive patients

We analyzed the incidence, pattern and location of headache in consecutive 200 patients with proven diagnosis of CVT to identify an association between localization of headache and site of sinus involvement. Headache was present in 136 (68%) patients. The duration of headache (reported in 128 patients) was reported as acute (1–3 days), 81 patients (60%); sub-acute (4–14 days), 33 patients (24%); and chronic (more than 14 days), 14 patients (10%). The quality of headache (reported in 72 patients) was reported as throbbing 12 (9%), band like 27 (20%), thunderclap 7 (5%), and other (pounding, exploding, stabbing, etc.) 26 (20%). The location of headache (reported in 101 patients) was reported as unilateral (one side of head) 48 (37%), localized (frontal, temporal, occipital, and neck) 25 (19%), and diffuse (whole head) 28 (20%). 43 (32%) patients had normal neurological examination (normal mental status, cranial nerves, motor and sensory examination with down going planters). 93 (68%) patients have abnormal findings on neurological examination including papilledema 29 (15%) patients, altered mental status 38 (19%), and focal neurological deficit 45 (22%) patients. There was no association between headache and presence of hemorrhage on CT and MRI (P = 0.1) or hydrocephalus (P = 0.09). There was no association between localization of headache and site of sinus thrombosis except sigmoid sinus thrombosis, where 17 out of 28 patients with involvement of sigmoid sinus alone or in combination with transverse sinus had pain in the occipital and neck region (P < 0.05). There was no association between lateralization of pain and site of thrombosis (P = 0.66).     

Headache: cortical vein thrombosis and response to anticoagulation.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is being diagnosed more frequently with the use of advanced radiologic imaging. The presentation of CVT includes a wide spectrum of nonspecific symptoms with headache predominating. We present a case with acute, severe headache. The evaluation included a head computed tomography (CT) scan that was normal. The presence of opacified sinuses led to treatment for sinusitis. The patient returned the following day with a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study identified an isolated cortical venous thrombosis. This patient was treated with anticonvulsant and anticoagulation therapy. A CVT is an unusual cause of headache and should be considered in patients with atypical presentation or associated seizure, or who are refractory to current therapy. Diagnosis may be made with MRI. Resolution and complete recovery are possible with appropriate therapy.