Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in Crohn`s disease. The empty delta sign

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. There is a well-known risk of thrombosis in patients with IBD with an overall incidence of 1.3-7.5%. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has been reported as an uncommon complication of IBD. It is suspected to be a consequence of genetic predisposition and the hypercoagulable state occurring during periods of increased activity. There are a few cases of Crohn`s disease in the literature associated with CVST. Here, we describe a patient of Crohn`s disease with thrombosis of the internal cerebral vein and sagittal sinus thrombosis in the intensive care unit of King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

CSF hydrodynamics in superior sagittal sinus thrombosis.

Cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics were investigated with a constant pressure infusion method in patients with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. Ten patients were studied with serial examinations up to 15 years after the onset of the disease. A total of 70 CSF hydrodynamic examinations were performed. A clear increase in intracranial pressure due to raised pressure in the major dural sinus was seen in all patients. A striking feature was the persistent intracranial pressure increase that declined only gradually. This had no obvious clinical impact. Change in CSF resorption facility played only a minor role in the intracranial pressure elevation. None of the patients developed hydrocephalus.     

上矢状窦血栓的病因及诊断

目的 探讨上矢状窦血栓的病因及诊断方法。方法 分析34例上矢状窦血栓患者的病因、临床表现、影像学特征，其中3例无明确诱因所致上矢状窦血栓患者，利用化学分光法检测其血清中的雌二醇（E2）、睾酮（T）水平。结果 上矢状窦血栓最常见的病因是产褥期血液高凝状态。3例未查到明确诱因的青年男性患者，血清中E2↑、E2／T↑。上矢状窦血栓的临床表现以头痛最常见，在意识清楚的30例患者中发生率为100％。影像学检查：CT检出率仅为65．4％，磁共振成像（MRI）、磁共振静脉血管造影（MRV）检出率为100％。结论 各种原因造成的血液凝固性增高是上矢状窦血栓最常见的病因，男性高雌激素血症是其发病的一个重要的危险因素。MRI和MRV技术相结合是诊断上矢状窦血栓的最佳方法。     

上矢状窦血栓形成诊断和治疗进展

上矢状窦血栓形成(superior sagittal sinus thrombosis,SSST)是一种特殊类型的脑血管疾病,多因误诊漏诊而引起严重并发症甚至死亡。随着神经影像学和神经介入学发展以及新型抗栓药物的应用,其早期发现率和诊断率大大提高,预后明显改善,现对其诊断和治疗进展作一综述。一、病因     

Nonmetastatic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis complicating systemic cancer.

Seven patients with cancer complicated by nonmetastatic sagittal sinus thrombosis were encountered in a 7-year period. Five had hematologic malignancies and two had solid tumors. There were two different presentations. In the first, neurologic signs and symptoms (e.g., headaches, seizures, hemiparesis, lethargy) occurred suddenly in five patients shortly after initiation of cancer therapy. Four of these five patients recovered with minimal residua; the fifth died as a direct result of the sinus thrombosis. The second presentation occurred in the two patients with terminal cancer who declined gradually without focal signs; both patients died. Only arteriography can reliably establish the diagnosis of sagittal sinus occlusion. In patients with cancer, sagittal sinus occlusion probably results from a "hypercoagulable state" associated with the systemic neoplasm.     

Demonstration of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis by indium-111 platelet scintigraphy

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, documented by cerebral angiography, was demonstrated by indium-111 platelet scintigraphy in a 40-year-old man presenting with seizures and intracerebral hematoma. Early scintigraphy demonstrated focal increased indium-111 activity at the two ends of the thrombus, while later scintigraphy showed diffuse increased activity in the area of the sinus. This initial experience suggests that platelet scintigraphy may provide unique information regarding the natural history of intracranial venous thrombosis.     

Dynamic radionuclide scanning in the diagnosis of thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus

Two cases of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis were diagnosed using a new technique of dynamic radionuclide brain-imaging. With the patient's head in the posterior oblique position, and 80-lens optical camera records the appearance of radionuclides in the superior sagittal sinus. This technique is quick and noninvasive, and serial studies are easily performed. Dural sinus thrombosis is difficult to diagnose on clinical findings alone. Dynamic canning should be used to screen high risk patients, such as those having pseudotumor syndrome or clotting disorders and elderly patients having pulmonary emboli or unexplained deterioration of mental status.     

High-voltage electrical burn of the skull causing thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus

We aimed to describe the effects of high-voltage electricity on the scalp, meninges, brain parenchyma, and venous sinuses of a 10-year-old girl with an accidental high-voltage electrical burn of the head who presented with an area of full-thickness scalp loss. Magnetic resonance venography demonstrated that the anterior third of the superior sagittal sinus was thrombosed. The child underwent surgical debridement of the wound with a duraplasty and transposition scalp-flap reconstruction. She recovered well after surgery. Our patient had no neurological deficit at presentation, and she had no new deficit at her 6-month follow-up examination. We concluded that despite the electrical nature of the brain, direct neural injury is largely thermal. To our knowledge, a scalp burn deep enough to involve the superior sagittal sinus has not been reported. Physicians must be aware of the potential for delayed neurological deterioration, including severe deficits such as quadriplegia.     

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in neonates

Three neonatal patients with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis are reported. The neurologic signs were bulging of the anterior fontanel and clonic hemi-convulsions. Neonatal polycythemia was believed to be an etiologic factor in two patients. Computed tomography revealed massive edema with slit-like ventricles in two patients. Increased density of the torcular Herophili and straight sinus also were demonstrated in two patients. The diagnosis of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis was confirmed by cerebral angiography in one patient and by digital subtraction angiography in the other two patients. Digital subtraction angiography appears to offer a definite advantage in the diagnosis of cerebral sinus thrombosis in the neonatal period.     

Chronic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with phlebosclerotic changes of the subarachnoid and intracerebral veins

An autopsy case of chronic thrombotic occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) with an unusually protracted clinical course is reported. The patient was an 84‐year‐old man without any predisposing conditions for thrombosis. The clinical features were atypical and were characterized by recurrent cerebral subcortical hemorrhages. The autopsy revealed a large, organized thrombus in the SSS and extensive hemorrhagic infarction of the bilateral parasagittal region of the cerebral hemispheres. The hemorrhagic infarction was comprised of the aggregation of numerous minute foci of coagulation necrosis associated with petechial hemorrhages. Marked phlebosclerotic changes were observed in the subarachnoid and intracerebral veins, which were considered to be reactive changes of the venous walls against a persistent elevation in peripheral venous pressure caused by thrombosis of the SSS.     

A case of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis following long-term medication with carbamazepine]

A 55-year-old man, who had been medicated with carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and sodium valproate for 12 years' duration, presented with severe headache, nausea, and transient diplopia. The neurological examination revealed mild disturbance of consciousness and postural tremor. He also complained of severe continuous headache but no throbbing pain. Enhanced head CT showed empty delta sign and irregular pooling of contrast agent around the superior sagittal sinus. Head MRI did not show the flow void in the superior sagittal sinus. Cerebral angiography demonstrated incomplete occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus and well-developed colateral channels. He was diagnosed having superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, and was placed on anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. He did not have any other risk factors such as inflammatory disease, infection, malignancy, and oral contraceptives. However, he had been medicated with some anticonvulsants including carbamazepine, which is known to induce venous thrombosis in the leg. Therefore, the association between superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and long term medication with carbamazepine was suspected. This is the first case report of anticonvulsant-associated cerebral venous thrombosis. It suggests that long-term medication with carbamazepine should be considered to be one of the risk factors for cerebral venous thrombosis.     

Congenital protein C deficiency and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis causing isolated intracranial hypertension.

The first case of a superior sagittal sinus thrombosis causing isolated intracranial hypertension as a result of congenital protein C deficiency is reported. Such a possibility must not be overlooked. Anticoagulation is recommended as a treatment for cerebral venous thrombosis. In the case of congenital protein C deficiency, vitamin K antagonists must be started cautiously due to the risk of skin necrosis.     

An unusual case of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis accompanied with dural AV fistula]

Benign intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri is an collective term for a number of diverse syndromes characterized by increased intracranial pressure. Neither intracranial mass nor ventricular dilatation is observed in this disorder. Moreover, the pathogenesis of this syndrome has yet to be determined. We report a case of 36-year-old female diagnosed as benign intracranial hypertension, who has developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and dural AV fistula during the follow up period. The patient was pointed out to have papilledema and elevated intracranial pressure six years ago. Although she was examined by both DSA and CT scan, no abnormal intracranial lesions were observed. Consequently, she was diagnosed as the benign intracranial hypertension and had been followed as an out patient. Three years later, lumboperitoneal shunting was performed because of severe headache and visual impairment. Postoperatively, the patient had been well for two years. Recently, occipital headache recurred and she was readmitted to our hospital. MRI studies demonstrated dilated vessels in the right occipital area. Additionally, angiograms revealed not only the superior sagittal sinus thrombosis but also the rich network of dural AV fistula adjacent to the occlusion. According to those results, the superior sagittal sinus was supposed to have the incomplete occlusion or delayed blood flow that were not observed by DSA, MRI and CT scan performed previously. Those occlusive change in the superior sagittal sinus impeded the CSF absorption and elevated the pressure of venous inflow, then the arterio-venous communication has been developed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Myelodysplastic syndrome and sagittal sinus thrombosis.

After a 5-day illness beginning with severe headache, a 46-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome died of complications from cerebral venous thrombosis. Considering the underlying hematologic abnormality, multiple therapies, and potential for leukemic transformation, we suggest that patients with myelodysplastic syndrome may be at increased risk for developing cerebral venous thrombosis.     

国人上矢状窦窦腔内结构的内镜解剖

目的观察国人上矢状窦窦腔内结构，特别是纤维索和蛛网膜颗粒的完整解剖形态。方法成人头颅标本5具，去除颅盖，应用内镜观察研究上矢状窦窦腔内纤维索及蛛网膜颗粒的原始结构特征；并纵行剖开管腔，显微镜下观察纤维索、蛛网膜颗粒。结果内镜下观察上矢状窦管腔内纤维索大致分3种类型：瓣膜状（47．1％）、小梁状（30．6％）、板层状（22．3％）。蛛网膜颗粒多集中于上矢状窦中段侧壁及静脉隐窝处呈指状突起突入窦腔。结论内镜较常规解剖手段可以更直观地观察上矢状窦窦腔内结构的完整形态特征。