Cavernous sinus and jugular thromboses, base of skull osteomyelitis and cranial nerve palsies: catastrophic complications of sphenoid sinusitis

Abstract

Sphenoid sinusitis is a clinically important entity as it may be associated with catastrophic complications including cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST), cerebral abscess or infarction, meningitis, base of skull osteomyelitis and cranial nerve palsies. We report a case of occult sphenoid sinusitis presenting as Streptococcus intermedius bacteraemia, bilateral jugular vein and CST, cranial nerve palsy and base of skull osteomyelitis.