Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

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Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Synonyms	Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis, CVST
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Headache, seizures, focal neurological deficits, altered mental status
Complications	Intracerebral hemorrhage, venous infarction
Onset	Can occur at any age
Duration	Varies
Types	N/A
Causes	Thrombosis of the dural venous sinuses
Risks	Pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, coagulation disorders, dehydration, infection
Diagnosis	MRI, MRV, CT
Differential diagnosis	Ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, meningitis
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Anticoagulation, thrombolysis, surgery
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable; depends on severity and treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a type of stroke that results from a blood clot in the dural venous sinuses, which drain blood from the brain. Symptoms may include headache, abnormal vision, any of the symptoms of stroke such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, and seizures.

Causes

The most common causes of CVST are conditions that cause the blood to clot more easily than normal, such as antiphospholipid syndrome, pregnancy, Factor V Leiden, and the use of birth control pills. Other risk factors include head injury, infection, and dehydration.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually by medical imaging, such as a CT scan or MRI of the brain, often followed by a venogram of the veins. A lumbar puncture may also be performed.

Treatment

Treatment is with anticoagulants (medications that prevent further clots from forming), and occasionally thrombolysis (medications that dissolve clots). In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the clot.

Prognosis

The prognosis of CVST is generally good, with most people recovering completely. However, some may have long-term neurological problems.

Gallery

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  Sagittal sinus thrombus

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  Dural venous sinus thrombosis

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  Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

See also

• Stroke
• Venous thrombosis
• Anticoagulant

References

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