Cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis masquerading as ischaemic stroke: a catastrophic pitfall in any emergency department.
Cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis is a clinically rare but fatal disease that progresses rapidly. Its initial presentation is always neglected by emergency physicians, until typical symptoms and signs are noted or thin-slice brain CT results obtained, by which time it is already too late. A case of cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis caused by sinusitis, which initially masqueraded as ischaemic stroke, is reported. Blindness of the left eye was the outcome. High suspicion, accurate diagnosis and aggressive antibiotic treatment are emphasised.
Seow
Vei-Ken
VK
Emergency Department, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, 95 Wen-Chang Road, Shih-Lin District, Taipei 11101, Taiwan.
Chong
Chee-Fah
CF
Wang
Tzong-Luen
TL
Lin
Chiu-Mei
CM
Lin
I-Yin
IY
D000368:Aged; D020226:Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016896:Treatment Outcome