Clinical picture of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis and patterns of dural sinus involvement.
OBJECTIVE
Cerebral venous thrombosis may cause focal brain lesions or an isolated intracranial hypertension without focal signs. We investigated whether these different clinical pictures correspond to different patterns of dural sinus thrombosis.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with cerebral venous thrombosis were classified in 2 groups based on the clinical and neuroradiological picture at admission: one group had clinical signs of intracranial hypertension, without focal neurological signs; the other group had focal neurological signs. The extension of thrombosis in dural sinuses was compared between the groups.


RESULTS
The amount of thrombosed sinuses was significantly different in the two groups, the involvement of the dural sinuses being greater in patients with isolated intracranial hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical picture of cerebral venous thrombosis is related to the pattern of dural sinus involvement. The presence of isolated intracranial hypertension is more frequent in patients with a more extended thrombosis of the dural sinuses.
Bergui
Mauro
M
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Turin, Ospedale S. Giovanni Battista, Turin, Italy. mauro.bergui@unito.it
Bradac
Gianni Boris
GB
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology