title: Cavernous sinus syndrome: A prospective study of 73 cases at a tertiary care centre in Northern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical and etiological profile of patients with cavernous sinus syndrome (CSS) and identify factors which could determine the etiology and influence the outcome of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study included 73 consecutive patients satisfying the criteria of CSS (i.e. involvement of any 2 of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th cranial nerves or any one of them with radiological evidence of cavernous sinus involvement). All these patients were subjected to detailed haematological, biochemical and radiological investigations and diagnosed and treated as per guidelines. The clinical and investigational data was recorded and analysed meticulously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A definitive etiological diagnosis of CSS could be achieved in 86% of patients. Tumours, fungal infections and Tolosa Hunt syndrome (THS) were most common causes. On univariate analysis, diabetes, severe vision loss (visual acuity of <3/60 in at least one eye), and presence of nasal discharge showed a significantly positive association with a fungal CSS. Evidence of paranasal sinusitis, bone erosion and ICA (internal carotid artery) involvement on Gadolinium enhanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of brain were significantly associated with a fungal CSS (p=0.0001), whereas involvement of orbital apex had a negative association with a neoplastic etiology (p=0.014). On multiple logistic regression, orbital apex involvement on MRI was associated with diagnosis of THS (p=0.019, OR: 18.7; 95% CI: 1.6-217.4) while MRI evidence of paranasal sinusitis (p=0.014, OR: 45; 95% CI: 2.1-94.3) and bone erosion ((p=0.019, OR: 12.5; 95% CI: 1.5-103) correlated with diagnosis of fungal CSS. 65.2% of patients (fungal CSS- 70%) had a good prognosis at six months follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients with CSS can be diagnosed accurately and managed properly with good outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. Electronic address: vivekl44@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D020433:Trigeminal Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aspergillus; Cavernous sinus; Mucormycosis; Painful ophthalmoplegia; Pituitary adenoma; Tolosa hunt syndrome