Recovery from primary deep cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with recanalisation

Bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage: a systematic review of etiologies, management strategies, and clinical outcomes

Bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhages (BBGHs) represent rare accidents, with no clear standard of care currently defined. We reviewed the literature on BBGHs and analyzed the available conservative and surgical strategies. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies reporting patients with BBGHs. Clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes were analyzed. We included 64 studies comprising 75 patients, 25 (33%) traumatic and 50 (67%) non-traumatic. Traumatic cases affected younger patients (mean age 35 vs. 46 years, p=0.014) and males (84% vs. 71%, p=0.27) and were characterized by higher proportion of normal blood pressures at admission (66% vs. 13%, p=0.0016) compared to non-traumatic cases. Most patients were comatose at admission (56%), with a mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 7 and a higher proportion of comatose patients in the traumatic than in the non-traumatic group (64% vs. 52%, p=0.28). Among the traumatic group, motor vehicle accidents and falls accounted for 79% of cases. In the non-traumatic group, hemorrhage was most associated with hypertensive or ischemic (54%) and chemical (28%) etiologies. Management was predominantly conservative (83%). Outcomes were poor in 56% of patients with mean follow-up of 8 months. Good recovery was significantly higher in the traumatic than in the non-traumatic group (48% vs. 17%, p=0.019). BBGHs are rare occurrences with dismal prognoses. Standard management follows that of current intracerebral hemorrhage guidelines with supportive care and early blood pressure management. Minimally invasive surgery is promising, though substantial evidence is required to outweigh the potentially increased risks of bilateral hematoma evacuation.

Direct thrombolysis for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an increasingly diagnosed disease with a wide range of symptoms, ranging from a mild headache to cerebral herniation. A potentially devastating syndrome, CVST has been associated with a mortality rate of 6-10%. In prospective studies, the overall rate of death and dependency from CVST ranges from 8.8 to 44.4%. Systemic anticoagulation remains the first-line treatment. However, a percentage of patients deteriorate despite medical therapy. These cases have resulted in the development of thrombolysis or endovascular treatment for CVST. Initial reports of the use of endovascular treatment of CVST have been promising. However, enthusiasm for the use of endovascular thrombolysis and thrombectomy should be tempered by an understanding of possible risks such as intracerebral hemorrhage and/or vessel dissection. The authors review the literature regarding endovascular treatment of CVST with a description of the chemical and mechanical thrombolytic techniques.

CT Diagnosis of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Importance of the First Examination for Fast Treatment

This study is a retrospective investigation of the role of non contrast-enhanced CT (NCCT) in the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in clinical practice. We retrospectively identified 24 patients discharged with a diagnosis of CVT between January 2002 and December 2008 who had undergone NCCT as the first imaging modality. NCCT had been evaluated by a general radiologist and subsequently by a neuroradiologist in five cases. Final diagnosis was established by CT angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance (MR) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). NCCT diagnosis was defined as "positive" when the neuroradiologist suggested the diagnosis of CVT on the report, as opposed to the "negative" diagnosis group. All NCCT examinations were reviewed by a neuroradiologist experienced in cerebrovascular pathology. We compared his evaluation and analysed the location and number of direct signs found on NCCT. The neuroradiologist strongly suggested an NCCT diagnosis of CVT in 63% (15/24) of patients: 80% (4/5) with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and 57% (11/19) with sinus venous thrombosis (SVT). The general radiologist's NCCT evaluation was incorrect in four cases, subsequently diagnosed at NCCT by the neuroradiologist. After reviewing the NCCT examination the experienced neuroradiologist identified the CVT direct sign in two that belonged to the NCCT negative diagnosis group. Thus the direct sign was present in 71% (17/24) of the cases: all the patients with DVT and 63% (12/19) of the patients with SVT. NCCT still plays an important role for fast and accurate diagnosis of CVT in the emergency setting. NCCT displayed the CVT direct sign more frequently than previously thought and it was correctly interpreted in most cases. Neuroradiological consultation adds value to the general radiologist's evaluation.

Noncontrast CT in deep cerebral venous thrombosis and sinus thrombosis: comparison of its diagnostic value for both entities

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

With its highly variable clinical presentation, the diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (SVT), and especially of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), as rare but important causes of stroke is challenging. Because noncontrast cranial CT (NCCT) is still the imaging technique of choice in most emergency departments, we aimed to investigate its value in the diagnosis of SVT and DVT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Screening our patient data base, we identified 8 patients with DVT and 25 patients with SVT. We also included a control group of 36 patients who had presented with clinical signs of DVT or SVT but in whom thrombosis was subsequently excluded. MR imaging, multidetector row CT angiography (MDCTA), and/or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were used as the reference standard. Three independent readers assessed the NCCTs for the presence of direct and indirect signs of DVT or SVT. Direct signs included the presence of hyperattenuated sinuses (ie, cord sign) or veins (ie, attenuated vein sign), whereas parenchymal edema and hemorrhage were indirect signs.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of the attenuated vein sign for the diagnosis of DVT were 100%, and 99.4%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of the cord sign for SVT were 64.6% and 97.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity values of NCCT were 93.7% and 98% for intracerebral edema and 94.8% and 98.7% for intracerebral hemorrhages, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although NCCT is insufficient to exclude a SVT, its value in the emergency diagnosis of DVT seems to be very high.

[Sinus and venous thrombosis--differential diagnosis of acute stroke]

Thrombosis of the cerebral veins and sinus is a rare, but important cause of stroke. The clinical picture varies. This contribution addresses the etiology, clinical picture, imaging procedures, and therapeutic options.

Deep cerebral venous sinus thrombosis often presents with neuropsychologic symptoms

The outcome of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) depends on rapid diagnosis and initiation of effective anticoagulation. We report seven cases of a subgroup with deep cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (DCVST) treated in our institution since 1990. Six of our seven patients presented with early neuropsychological deficits (mental obtundation, bradyphrenia or apathia). This clinical presentation, in combination with headache, and focal neurological deficits, aids the early diagnosis of DCVST. Thalamic hyperintensities on T2-weighted MRI images, previously considered infarctions, were fully reversible during treatment with heparin. This indicates that early in the course of the disease they correspond to vasogenic oedema.

Cerebral venous thrombosis: combined intrathrombus rtPA and intravenous heparin

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We chose to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined intrathrombus rtPA and intravenous heparin in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

METHODS

We treated 12 patients with symptoms of 1 to 40 days' duration (eg, headache, somnolence, focal deficits, seizures, and nausea and vomiting). Pretreatment MRI disclosed subtle hemorrhagic venous infarction in 4 patients, obvious hemorrhagic infarction in 2, small parenchymal hemorrhage from recent pallidotomy in 1, and no focal lesion in 5. Magnetic resonance venography and contrast venography identified thrombi in the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) in 3 patients; transverse/sigmoid sinus (TS/SS) in 2; SSS and both TS/SS in 1; SSS and 1 TS/SS in 5; and SSS, 1 TS/SS, and straight sinus in 1 patient. A loading dose of rtPA was instilled throughout the clot at 1 mg/cm, followed by continuous intrathrombus infusion at 1 to 2 mg/h. Intravenous heparin was infused concomitantly.

RESULTS

Flow was restored completely in 6 patients and partially in 3, with a mean rtPA dose of 46 mg (range, 23 to 128 mg) at a mean time of 29 hours (range, 13 to 77 hours). Symptoms improved in these 9 patients concomitantly with flow restoration. Flow could not be restored in 3 patients. In 1 of them, treatment was stopped when little progress had been made, and fibrinogen level dropped to 118 mg/dL. In the other 2 patients, hemorrhagic worsening occurred, and treatment was abbreviated after initial rtPA dosing. In 1 of these, the hematoma was evacuated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience with intrathrombus rtPA in conjunction with intravenous heparin in patients with CVT is encouraging. This therapy should probably be regarded as unsafe in patients with obvious hemorrhage. Time to restore flow may be faster than with urokinase (an average of 71 hours has been reported for 29 documented patients). Further evaluation of rtPA with heparin in CVT is warranted.

Reversible focal MRI abnormalities due to status epilepticus. An EEG, single photon emission computed tomography, transcranial Doppler follow-up study

We demonstrate clinical data and findings of MRI, transcranial Doppler (TCD), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and electroencephalography (EEG) in an 8 month follow-up study of a 15 year old girl who developed focal status epilepticus with sensory and visual illusions. EEG showed right temporal and occipital seizure activity and attenuation of the alpha activity with right predominance. MRI showed a right temporo-parietal hyper signal on the T2 weighted images involving the cortex with sulcal effacement. MRI-angiography suggested insufficient flow in the right transverse sinus. TCD detected an elevated flow velocity in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery during status epilepticus, corresponding to an increased perfusion of the epileptic area revealed by SPECT. After normalization of the TCD finding, the MRI detected persistent cortical abnormality beyond the 70th day after admission. MRI normalized on the 103rd day of follow-up. Serial EEG frequency analysis demonstrated the recovery of alpha peak frequency on the left side, but the attenuation of rhythmic signals remained persistent on the right. In our case, the restitution of postictal EEG lag behind the consolidation of MRI signal abnormality.