A case of cortical vein thrombosis with the cord sign.
BACKGROUND
Computed tomography is performed in suspicious cases of cerebral venous thrombosis. Although an empty delta sign is not uncommonly reported, a cord sign is rarely reported. But this is, if present, pathognomonic, especially in the case of cortical vein thrombosis.


METHODS
A young man with antithrombin III deficiency sought emergency treatment for headache and seizure. Noncontrast computed tomography showed a typical cord sign in multiple sections. It seemed to be independent from the adjacent pathologic findings in most sections. Brain magnetic resonance imaging verified it as a thrombosed vein in conjunction with acute venous infarction.


CONCLUSIONS
The cord sign should be considered for early and accurate diagnosis of cortical vein thrombosis.
Ahn
Tae-Beom
TB
Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
Roh
Jae-Kyu
JK
D000328:Adult; D020152:Antithrombin III Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology