Unilateral venous thalamic infarction in a child mimicking a thalamic tumor.
Unilateral thalamic infarction is a rare condition in adults. This is a case report of a young child presenting with left-sided hemiparesis of sudden onset due to an unilateral venous thalamic infarction. This was attributed to an asymmetric thrombosis of the cerebral internal veins, a partial thrombosis of the vein of Galen and straight sinus. Magnetic resonance imaging resulted primarily in the differential diagnosis of a cerebral tumor or an intracerebral abscess, leading to stereotactic puncture. Subsequent magnetic resonance venography facilitated the correct diagnosis. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia necessitated anticoagulation treatment with hirudin and later, warfarin. The patient made a complete recovery. We conclude that unclear unilateral thalamic lesions might be symptomatic of a cerebral deep venous thrombosis and might mimic a thalamic tumor. In uncertain cases, we suggest rapid performance of magnetic resonance angiography.
Haug
Verena
V
Division of Neuropediatrics and Muscular Disorders, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany. verena.haug@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Linder-Lucht
Michaela
M
Zieger
Barbara
B
Korinthenberg
Rudolf
R
Mall
Volker
V
Mader
Irina
I
D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology*