Bithalamic infarcts: embolism of the top of basilar artery or deep cerebral venous thrombosis?
Bithalamic infarcts are usually attributed to thromboembolism of the top of the basilar artery. However, in some cases, deep cerebral venous thrombosis and thrombosis of cerebral venous sinuses was proved to be the cause. The case of a 47-year-old female with ischemic thalamic and mesencephalic lesions is reported, that was attributed to thrombosis of internal cerebral veins. In cases of bithalamic infarcts, apart from the top of the basilar artery syndrome, deep cerebral venous thrombosis should be taken into consideration. Neuroimaging findings such as generalized cerebral edema, multiple infarcts or hemorrhages, hyperdense appearance of cerebral sinuses or veins and filling defects in the cerebral venous sinuses in contrast-CCT, can lead to the proper diagnosis.
Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
Ioanna
I
Ameridou
Martha
M
Spilioti
Georgios
G
Amoiridis
D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed