Deep Cerebral Venous Thrombosis-A Clinicoradiological Study

Abstract

Stroke is a common neurological emergency. Almost 80% of strokes are due to arterial occlusion. Venous thrombosis comprises less than 1-2% of all strokes. Involvement of the deep cerebral venous system is still rare and accounts for about 10.9% of all cerebral venous thromboses (CVT). CVT diagnosis is often delayed or missed, because of its variable clinical manifestations. We retrospectively (2015-18) and prospectively (2018-20) reviewed all the cases of CVT in a tertiary care center in south India. Out of a total of 52 CVT cases, 12 were due to the involvement of deep cerebral venous system. Their clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, and outcomes were assessed. The most frequent presentation was headache followed by seizures. Hyperhomocysteinemia was the most common risk factor noted. Imaging characteristics were variable, and a high index of suspicion was required for early diagnosis. All patients had favorable outcome in our study, and except one, all were treated conservatively.