Cranial nerve syndrome in thrombosis of the transverse/sigmoid sinuses

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a cerebrovascular disease associated with a wide variety of clinical signs and symptoms, which may often delay appropriate diagnosis. Single or multiple cranial nerve palsies (III-VIII) without evidence of other signs and symptoms have not, so far, been considered a relevant syndrome of CVT. This event turned out to be a characteristic finding in five patients with thrombosis of the ipsilateral transverse/sigmoid sinus, who were recruited prospectively over a 14-month period. The diagnosis was supported by non-invasive MRI with the application of a newly developed subtraction technique. In view of the considerable mimics of the syndrome, and the long-standing need for conventional angiography to confirm the disease, it is likely to have been underestimated in the past; since appropriate treatment seems possible the diagnosis and utility of early MR venography should be considered in patients with single or multiple cranial nerve lesions of uncertain aetiology.

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: