Dual-Stent retriever thrombectomy for extensive dural sinus thrombosis.

INTRODUCTION: First line treatment for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is systemic anticoagulation. In cases with symptoms of elevated ICP, endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is pursued. We describe two cases in which dual stent-retrievers were used for EVT. OBJECTIVES: The use of dual stent-retrievers has been described in arterial stroke when clot is present in the M1 artery and both M2 branches as a rescue therapy after 1 stent-retriever failed to remove the clot. We applied this same thinking to our EVT patients. METHODS: A 17-year-old female with imaging demonstrating occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS), dominant right transverse sinus (TS), right sigmoid sinus (SS), and upper right internal jugular vein (IJV). A 20-year-old female with a magnetic resonance venography (MRV) noting CVT in the dominant lateral left TS, SS, and upper left IJV. RESULTS: Both were taken for EVT due to severity of symptoms. Two 6 × 40 mm stent-retrievers were deployed into the CVT and then remove with continuous aspiration with significant recanalization. CONCLUSIONS: The average diameter of the dural sinuses is 8 mm compared to the average size of the middle cerebral artery 3-4 mm. The largest available SR in the United States is 6 mm, and the largest outer diameter of available aspiration catheters is 2-3 mm. Due to the larger size of the dural sinuses, using two SRs can result in more efficient recanalization and less radiation.

Utility of 3D T1-weighted turbo spin echo black blood sequence for the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Accurate assessment of dural sinus, deep and cortical venous thrombosis on MR imaging is challenging. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of 3D-T1 turbo spin echo (T1S), sequences in detecting venous thrombosis and comparing it with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), magnetic resonance venography (MRV) and post contrast T1 magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (T1C). METHODS: A blinded retrospective observational analysis of 71 consecutive patients evaluated for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and 30 control patients was performed. Multimodality reference standard adopted included T1C, SWI with MRV. Sub-analyses in superficial, deep and cortical venous segments were performed in addition to correlation of signal intensity of thrombus with the clinical stage. RESULTS: A total of 2222 segments in 101 complete MRI examinations were evaluated. Sensitivity/specificity/positive predictive value/negative predictive value/accuracy and precision of T1S for detection of cortical vein thrombosis was 0.994/1/1/0.967/0.995/1, 1/0.874/0.949/1/0.963/0.950 for detection of superficial venous sinus thrombosis and 1/1/1/1/1/1 for deep venous thrombosis. The AUC yield for T1S was 0.997 for cortical, 1 for deep and 0.988 for superficial venous segments. CONCLUSION: T1S paralleled the accuracy of conventional sequences in the overall detection of CVT but showed superior accuracy in the detection of cortical venous thrombosis. It makes a fitting addition to the CVT MRI protocol in scenarios demanding negation of gadolinium administration.

Dural sinus thrombosis after resection of vestibular schwannoma using suboccipital retrosigmoid approach-thrombosis classification and management proposal.

Dural sinus thrombosis is one of the complications after posterior fossa surgery. However, that topic is not described well with regard to vestibular schwannoma surgery using the unique suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. We analyzed retrospectively medical records and radiological investigations of 116 patients. The including criteria were histopathologically confirmed vestibular schwannoma operated on using the retrosigmoid approach, preoperative and postoperative contrast-enhanced MRI, and at least 1-year follow-up. The patient group included 36% males and 64% females. The average age was 47.3 ± 13.9 years. Sixty percent of the tumors were classified as T4b according to the Hannover scale and their mean volume was 13.73 ± 10.28 cm3. There were no signs of thrombosis preoperatively. Postoperative changes in the dural sinuses were found in 26 (22%) cases. In 7 (27%) cases, there was an external compression by the hemostatic agent, and in 19 (73%) cases, a thrombus was visualized in the sinus lumen. The size of the sinus, age, and the tumor size were not risk factors for thrombosis, whereas an intraoperative sinus injury was a statistically significant risk factor (p = 0.0012). All of the patients diagnosed with thrombosis were in good clinical condition in long-term follow-up, except one fatal case. Complete recanalization was observed in 58% of cases after 1-year follow-up. Postoperative changes in the dural venous sinuses are a frequent finding after vestibular schwannoma surgery using the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. Intraoperative dural injury is a risk factor for thrombosis. Thrombosis in that group of patients is usually asymptomatic and does not influence the prognosis.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) is a relatively rare, potentially fatal neurological condition that can be frequently overlooked due to the vague nature of its clinical and radiological presentation. A literature search on PubMed using the keyword "Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis" was performed. We searched for the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of CSVT. All full-text articles in the last 10 years, in adults (>18 years), and the English language were included. We aim to give a comprehensive review of CSVT, with a primary focus on the management of the disease. SUMMARY: The literature search revealed 404 articles that met our criteria. CSVT is a relatively rare condition that accounts for approximately 1% of all forms of stroke. They can be subdivided into acute, subacute, and chronic forms based on the time of onset of clinical symptoms. It is a multifactorial disease, and the major forms of clinical presentation include isolated intracranial hypertension syndrome, focal neurological deficits, and cavernous sinus syndrome. MRI with magnetic resonance venogram (MRV) is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Anticoagulation with heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin is the mainstay of treatment. Endovascular management is indicated for those cases with severe symptoms or worsening of symptoms despite anticoagulation therapy. Favorable outcomes have been reported in patients who receive early diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: CSVT is a potentially fatal neurological condition that is often under-diagnosed due to its nonspecific presentation. Timely diagnosis and treatment can reduce morbidity and mortality, remarkably improving the outcome in affected individuals.

Torcular dural sinus malformations: a single-center case series and a review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Torcular dural sinus malformations (tDSMs) are rare vascular pathologies with various anatomoclinical pictures and prognosis. We analyzed our case series and corroborated the complexity of this rare unit by a review of literature. CASE SERIES: From 2003 to 2018, we treated four tDSMs patients. The evolution of three postnatally diagnosed cases of similar angioarchitecture contrasted with a fourth antenatally diagnosed case with significant torcular thrombosis. All patients were examined by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, CT angiography, and MRI angiography. Three patients underwent digital subtraction angiography with embolization of feeders. Unusual pathological images were depicted. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis along with embolization of feeders and lake could improve the outcome for tDSM patients with dural arteriovenous shunts. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation before endovascular treatment led to significant worsening of both clinical presentation and MRI picture. For patients who persist with hydrocephalus despite the endovascular approach, we suggest endoscopic third ventriculostomy as a first-line treatment option. Antenatally diagnosed patients with thrombosed lakes constitute a prognostically better group of patients. Spontaneous thrombosis and remodelation of the lake can, however, still leave neurological sequelae, as observed in our patient.

Torcular dural sinus malformations: a grading system proposal.

BACKGROUND: Torcular dural sinus malformations (tDSMs) are congenital complex vascular anomalies often referred as a single unit. Nevertheless, they possess distinct anatomical features, clinical diversity, and markedly different outcomes. OBJECTIVE: On the basis of our institutional experience and analysis of published data, we propose a grading system. METHODS: We have identified 44 papers to which we added our four institutional cases for a total of 126 patients. Eight predictor variables were studied. In order to assess their individual impact on mortality and possible correlations, a logistic regression model was constructed through a stepwise forward process. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 22.1%. Mortality was higher in tDSM patients diagnosed postnatally, 40.7% versus a 15.6% in prenatally found cases (p = 0.007). We divided the patients into four grades. Grade I comprised patients with no feeder evidence and possessed the best outcomes (mortality of 7.55%). Mortality rose for grades II and III defined respectively by scarce and multiple feeders. Brain damage was the defining feature of grade IV. A mortality of 75% could be observed within this grade. Grade IV was further divided into grades IVa (antenatal) and IVb (postnatal cases). Furthermore, our logistic regression model found that brain damage (OR 11.3, p < 0.001, 95% CI 2.97-42.91) and patent feeders (OR 4, p = 0.03, 95% CI 1.15-13.86) were major determinants of poor outcome (area under ROC curve of 81.44%). CONCLUSION: The grading system (tDSM-GS) streamlines classification into four different grades facilitating both diagnosis, clinical decision-making, and proper prognostication.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: an Update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this update is to summarize the recent advances on the management of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). RECENT FINDINGS: There is a trend in declining frequency of CVT patients presenting with focal deficits or coma and a decrease in mortality over time. Anemia and obesity were identified as risk factors for CVT. During pregnancy and puerperium, the higher risk of CVT occurs in the first months post-delivery. With appropriate management, 1/3 of comatose CVT patients can have a full recovery. The management of CVT patients includes treatment of associated conditions, anticoagulation with parenteral heparin, prevention of recurrent seizures, and decompressive neurosurgery in patients with large venous infarcts/hemorrhages with impending herniation. After the acute phase, patients should be anticoagulated for 3-12 months. Results of recently completed randomized controlled trials on endovascular treatment and comparing dabigatran with warfarin will improve the treatment of CVT.

Bilateral Transverse Sinus Thrombosis following Craniotomy and Cranial Reconstruction for Sagittal Craniosynostosis.

INTRODUCTION: Craniotomy and cranial reconstruction is the most common procedure for children older than 6 months with craniosynostosis. Dural sinus thrombosis after this surgery has not been well reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: This 2-year-old child underwent a bilateral craniotomy and cranial reconstruction for sagittal craniosynostosis. He had a partial thickness tear of the wall of the right transverse sinus which was uneventfully managed. Postoperative imaging showed evidence of bilateral thrombosis of the transverse sinus with a small occipital hemorrhage. He was started on low-molecular-weight heparin. Follow-up imaging showed nonprogression of the thrombosis. Four days later, he developed pulmonary hemorrhage, had an extended period of low oxygenation and hypotension with acute respiratory distress syndrome, and had to be ventilated for a prolonged period. Follow-up MRI showed evidence of extensive bilateral cortical hypointensities possibly due to hypoxemia. At the last follow-up, he continued to be grossly neurologically impaired. CONCLUSION: Thrombosis of the dural sinuses is a very rare occurrence after an extensive craniotomy and cranial reconstruction. However, it should be considered during the postoperative period and, if diagnosed, it should be treated with anticoagulants. Avoiding a direct sinus injury during reflection of the craniotomy flap and covering the exposed sinus with moist cottonoids during the surgery is advocated to prevent sinus thrombosis.

Dural Sinus Thrombosis with Nonsymptomatic Persistent Falcine Sinus: A Case Report.

A 24-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital after convulsive status epilepticus. A cerebral magnetic resonance venography revealed a persistent fetal falcine sinus. Additionally, the posterior third of the superior sagittal sinus was hypoplastic and the abnormal deep venous drainage was accompanied. These abnormalities had already been detected by magnetic resonance imaging several years ago. In the present scan, we discovered a sinus thrombosis in the hypoplastic superior sagittal sinus. In the cerebral angiography, we observed delayed venous return in the left parieto-occipital lobe and hypothesized that cerebral venous stasis due to the thrombus caused the convulsive status epilepticus. The patient was treated with intravenous administration of heparin along with an antiepileptic drug, and she recovered with no neurological defects. In the present case, the falcine sinus and the anomalous venous return were likely congenital while the status epilepticus was derived from thrombosis in the hypoplastic superior sagittal sinus. Although the falcine sinus functioned as an alternative pathway for the superior sagittal sinus, the hypoplastic superior sagittal sinus itself may also play an important role as a venous drainage channel.

Thrombosed Fetal Dural Sinus Malformation: Correlation Between Prenatal Ultrasound and Autopsy Findings.

INTRODUCTION: Dural sinus malformations, which are characterized by massively dilated dural sinuses, are one of the etiologies of an intracranial fetal cystic mass. Thrombi within these dural sinus malformations can develop while in-utero, and can be visualized by ultrasound in fetal life. Definitive postnatal diagnosis requires an autopsy. CASE REPORT: We report two thrombosed fetal dural sinus malformations which are prenatally suspected during the second trimester with ultrasonography and postnatally confirmed with autopsy. CONCLUSION: Prenatal ultrasound images and fetal autopsy findings can be useful to establish the prenatal diagnosis of thrombosed dural sinus malformation.

Near-complete recanalization of jugular vein and multiple dural sinus thromboses with warfarin in a case of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a cause of arterial and venous thrombosis especially in the young adult population. Although dural sinus thrombosis is a relatively rare complication of antiphospholipid syndrome, it may be a cause of morbidity and mortality. Extension of thrombosis and involvement of deep venous structures are poor prognostic factors in patients with dural sinus thrombosis, but the rate of near-complete recanalization is not known in antiphospholipid syndrome-related dural sinus thrombosis. Herein, a case of antiphospholipid syndrome with multiple dural sinus, deep cerebral vein and internal jugular vein thromboses is presented with demonstrative imaging findings and near-complete recanalization after warfarin.

European Stroke Organization guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis - endorsed by the European Academy of Neurology.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Current guidelines on cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) diagnosis and management were issued by the European Federation of Neurological Societies in 2010. We aimed to update the previous European Federation of Neurological Societies guidelines using a clearer and evidence-based methodology. METHOD: We followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, formulating relevant diagnostic and treatment questions, performing systematic reviews and writing recommendations based on the quality of available scientific evidence. RESULTS: We suggest using magnetic resonance or computed tomographic angiography for confirming the diagnosis of CVT and not routinely screening patients with CVT for thrombophilia or cancer. We recommend parenteral anticoagulation in acute CVT and decompressive surgery to prevent death due to brain herniation. We suggest preferentially using low-molecular-weight heparin in the acute phase and not direct oral anticoagulants. We suggest not using steroids and acetazolamide to reduce death or dependency. We suggest using antiepileptics in patients with an early seizure and supratentorial lesions to prevent further early seizures. We could not make recommendations concerning duration of anticoagulation after the acute phase, thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy, therapeutic lumbar puncture, and prevention of remote seizures with antiepileptic drugs. We suggest that, in women who have suffered a previous CVT, contraceptives containing oestrogens should be avoided. We suggest that subsequent pregnancies are safe, but use of prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin should be considered throughout pregnancy and puerperium. CONCLUSIONS: Multicentre observational and experimental studies are needed to increase the level of evidence supporting recommendations on the diagnosis and management of CVT.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis is an important cause of stroke in the young. Unlike venous thromboembolism (VTE), women are affected three times more often than men by CVT. The most common symptoms are headache, seizures and focal neurological deficits. The diagnosis can be confirmed with MRI, CT-venography, or catheter angiography. An intracerebral hemorrhage is found on cerebral imaging in approximately 40 % of patients, and can range from small juxtacortical hemorrhages to large space-occupying lesions. Many risk factors for CVT have been reported, most of which overlap with those of VTE. The primary therapy for CVT is anticoagulation with heparin, based on limited evidence from randomized trials. Both unfractionated or low-molecular weight heparin can be used to treat CVT, although the latter is generally preferable. Small studies have shown promising results of endovascular treatment in severe patients, but these data require confirmation in a randomized trial. In patients who develop clinical and radiological signs of impending herniation decompressive surgery can be both life-saving and result in a good functional outcome. The prognosis is nowadays favorable in most cases, especially compared to arterial stroke, although a significant proportion of patients do suffer from chronic symptoms.

Compression of the posterior fossa venous sinuses by epidural hemorrhage simulating venous sinus thrombosis: CT and MR findings.

BACKGROUND: Posterior fossa dural venous sinus thrombus is a well-described complication of head trauma, especially when fracture crosses the dural sinus grooves or in association with epidural hemorrhage. We have found that post-traumatic posterior fossa epidural hematoma compressing a dural venous sinus can mimic dural venous thrombus. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the CT and MRI findings of posterior fossa epidural hemorrhages simulating sinus thrombosis, to make radiologists aware of this important imaging pitfall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe radiologic findings in four children in whom a posterior fossa epidural hemorrhage mimicked dural venous sinus thrombus. Routine CT head and CT venography were obtained on Toshiba volume and helical CT scanners. MRI and MR venography were performed on a Philips scanner. RESULTS: In all cases there was medial displacement and compression of the posterior fossa dural venous sinuses without intraluminal thrombosis. The epidural hemorrhage was seen tracking along sinus grooves in the occipital bone, peeling the dura containing the sinuses from the calvarium and compressing the sinus, simulating thrombosis on axial CT views. CONCLUSION: Both venous sinus thrombosis and posterior fossa epidural hemorrhages in children are well-described complications of head trauma. Posterior fossa epidural hemorrhage can mimic a sinus thrombus by compressing and displacing the sinuses. It is important to recognize this pitfall because treatment of a suspected thrombus with anticoagulation can worsen epidural hemorrhage.

Vascular involvement in Behçet's syndrome: a retrospective analysis of associations and the time course.

OBJECTIVE: Some features of Behçet's syndrome (BS) tend to go together. We aimed to explore the association and timing of various vascular events in both the venous and the arterial vascular tree. METHODS: We conducted a chart survey on the type and time of vascular involvement of BS. The cross-relationships of involvement were assessed by phi correlation coefficients. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to identify patterns of vascular involvement. The risk of vascular recurrence was also estimated. RESULTS: We identified 882 patients with vascular involvement among 5970 BS patients (14.7%). Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), almost always in the legs, was the most frequent single vascular event (592/882; 67.1%). The cumulative risk of a recurrent vascular event was 38.4% at 5 years. Patients with extrapulmonary artery involvement (EPAI) were significantly older than those with venous and pulmonary artery involvement (PAI). There were significant correlations between dural sinus thrombosis (DST) and PAI, Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and inferior vena cava syndrome (IVCS) and between IVCS and superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). Multiple correspondence analysis further indicated clustering of PAI, DST, BCS, IVCS and SVCS. However, EPAI and DVT clustered separately from forms of vascular disease, the separate clustering of the DVT being attributed to its propensity to occur solo. CONCLUSION: The most common type of vascular involvement in BS is solo DVT, almost always occurring in the legs. Various forms of venous disease in BS segregate together and PAI is included in this group. EPAI segregates separately.

Neuroimaging of Vermiform Giant Arachnoid Granulations in Children.

Arachnoid granulations (AGs) are generally benign structures within the subarachnoid space that extend into the dural sinuses and calvarial bone. They can present in a variety of sizes but are termed 'giant' arachnoid granulations (GAGs) when they are larger than 1 cm in diameter or take up a significant portion of the dural sinus' lumen. Vermiform giant arachnoid granulations are a specific type of GAG that are known for their worm-like appearance. Specifically, these vermiform GAGs can be challenging to diagnose as they can mimic other pathologies like dural sinus thrombosis, sinus cavernomas, or brain tumors. In this case series, we present two cases of vermiform giant arachnoid granulations, discuss their imaging characteristics and highlight the diagnostic challenges to improve identification and prevent misdiagnoses.

Imaging Approach to Venous Sinus Thrombosis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cerebrovascular disease caused by an occlusion of the cerebral venous sinuses or cortical veins. It has a favorable prognosis if diagnosed and treated early. CVT can be difficult to diagnose on clinical grounds, and imaging plays a key role. We discuss clinical features and provide an overview of current neuroimaging methods and findings in CTV.

Looking Beyond the Bleed: A Case Report.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) can be one of the most challenging diagnoses to make in a patient with an undifferentiated headache. A missed diagnosis of the condition can lead to catastrophic consequences, as seen in the case described here. There needs to be a high index of clinical suspicion for CVT as the diagnosis involves imaging modalities that are not frequently used in the emergency setting. This case report demonstrates how the classic avenues of headache workup can miss this diagnosis. It also illustrates how delayed diagnosis can present in the extremis and have unsalvageable outcomes.

A Rare Case of Unprovoked Deep Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis With Associated Petechial Hemorrhage.

A 73-year-old male with hyperlipidemia and prior squamous cell carcinoma presented with a new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizure and left-sided weakness. He had a progressively worsening cervical and occipital headache for nine days and was initially evaluated with an unremarkable CT head. The patient arrived at the emergency department with a left gaze deviation, prompting a "Code Neuro." CT angiography (CTA) detected a large dural sinus thrombosis, which was confirmed with a CT venogram and brain MRI. The patient was closely monitored in the intensive care unit and managed with heparin, nicardipine, and hypertonic saline boluses. Neurosurgery opted against surgical intervention. EEG revealed right hemisphere focal dysfunction. Recanalization occurred on hospital day 6. The patient was transitioned to apixaban upon discharge and instructed to follow up with hematology for a hypercoagulable workup. This case highlights the diagnostic complexity of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), urging consideration of a differential even in atypical patients. We hope reporting this case will prompt clinicians to consider CVST in patients with non-specific symptoms, leading to timely diagnosis and treatment.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Young Adults: Unknown Origins.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a relatively rare neurological disorder that may result in significant morbidity if not diagnosed and managed promptly. The clinical presentation of CVT is nonspecific and highly variable with acute, subacute, or chronic onset. It most often presents as a headache but may present with focal neurological symptoms, symptoms of intracranial hypertension, or encephalopathy. The predisposing factors for CVT are mainly acquired and genetic hypercoagulable conditions. However, the epidemiology, predisposing factors, and clinical presentation of CVT are not clearly established given the rare nature of the condition. We present a case series of three young patients who did not have any classic underlying etiology for CVT or any prior diagnosis of venous thrombosis. We want to report this case series to show that a high index of suspicion should be maintained regardless of the absence of risk factors.