Venous sinus thrombosis during COVID-19 infection in pregnancy: a case report

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Although it is known that the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was first seen in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has affected the whole world, mainly targets the respiratory tract, cases of this disease with a wide clinical spectrum are emerging as information is shared. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a pregnant woman who was diagnosed with venous sinus thrombosis after she developed headache and hemiparesis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity lasted for two weeks after COVID-19 had been diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspected COVID-19, especially in the presence of causes of hypercoagu- lability and presence of atypical features, venous sinus thrombosis needs to be kept in mind in making the differential diagnosis.

Mastoiditis aguda con complicación intracraneal. Reporte de un caso pediátrico / Acute mastoiditis with intracranial complication in a pediatric patient

La mastoiditis aguda es una infección de las celdillas mastoideas, generalmente, secundaria a la progresión de una otitis media aguda. Las bacterias aisladas con más frecuencia en las mastoiditis son Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes y Staphylococcus aureus. La infección mastoidea puede extenderse por contigüidad, afectar a estructuras vecinas y dar lugar a complicaciones intra- o extracraneales. Las más frecuentes son las intracraneales, entre las que se incluyen la meningitis, el absceso cerebeloso o del lóbulo temporal, el absceso epi- o subdural y la trombosis de senos venosos.Se presenta el caso de una niña de 4 años que desarrolló dos complicaciones intracraneales (absceso epidural y trombosis de senos venosos transverso y sigmoideo) a partir de una mastoiditis aguda producida por Streptococus pyogenes

Acute mastoiditis is an infection that affects the mastoid air-cell system, usually due to the progression of an acute otitis media. The bacteria most frequently isolated in acute mastoiditis are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The mastoid infection can extend affecting contiguous structures and producing intra or extracranial complications. The most frequent ones are intracranial complications, including meningitis, temporal lobe or cerebellar abscess, epidural or subdural abscess and venous sinus thrombosis.We present the case of a 4-year-old girl who developed two intracranial complications (intracranial epidural abscess and transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis) initiated in an acute mastoiditis produced by Streptococcus pyogenes.

Trombosis de Senos Venosos, experiencia en un hospital pediátrico en Buenos Aires, Argentina / Venous sinus thrombosis: Experience at a pediatric hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Introducción: La trombosis de senos venosos cerebrales (TSVC) es infrecuente en pediatría. Está asociada a condiciones como infecciones, deshidratación, fallo renal, traumatismo de cráneo, neoplasias, trastornos hematológicos, etc. Cefalea, vómitos, alteración del sensorio y hemiparesia son los síntomas más frecuentes. El diagnóstico es confirmado por TC con angio y/o RM con angio. La anticoagulación es el tratamiento de elección. Los pacientes suelen evolucionar favorablemente. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional de pacientes con TSVC atendidos en el Hospital Garrahan desde 2010 a 2017. Las variables registradas fueron: edad, sexo; manifestaciones clínicas, factores de riesgo; estudios diagnósticos, tratamiento y evolución. Resultados: Se describen 34 pacientes con TSVC. Los adolescentes fueron el grupo mayor. La cefalea fue el síntoma más frecuente. Angio TC, RM y/o angio RM confirmaron el diagnóstico; los senos transverso, sagital superior y sigmoideo fueron los más comprometidos. 21 pacientes tenían patología oncológica y 14 procesos infecciosos. El tratamiento de elección fue la anticoagulación. Tuvieron buena evolución el 82%. Conclusiones: Debemos sospechar esta entidad en dos grupos: el primero formado por lactantes y pre-escolares con patología infecciosa; y un segundo integrado por escolares y adolescentes con patología oncológica, especialmente aquellos que reciben L-ASA.Es importante resaltar el valor de la TC y angio TC para hacer diagnóstico oportuno, resultando accesible las 24 horas en el hospital

Introduction: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is uncommon in children. CVST is associated with conditions, such as infections, dehydration, renal failure, head trauma, cancer, and hematological disorders. Headache, vomiting, sensory alterations, and hemiparesis are the most common symptoms. Diagnosis is confirmed by angio CT and/or MRA. Anticoagulation is the treatment of choice. Outcome is generally good. Material and Methods: An observational, descriptive study of patients with CVST seen at Garrahan Hospital between 2010 and 2017. The following variables were recorded: age, sex; clinical manifestations, risk factors; diagnostic studies, treatment, and outcome. Results: 34 patients with CVST were studied. Most patients were adolescents. Headache was the most common symptom. Angio CT, MRI, and/or MRA confirmed the diagnosis; the transverse, superior sagittal, and sigmoid sinuses were most frequently affected. Of the patients, 21 had oncological disease and 14 infections. Anticoagulation was the treatment of choice. Outcome was good in 82%. Conclusions: CVST should be suspected in the following two groups: A first group consisting of infants and preschool children with infections and a second group of school-age children and adolescents with cancer, especially those receiving L-ASA. It is important to highlight the role of CT and angio CT for early diagnosis as the study is available day and night at the hospital.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension and its complications / Hipotensão intracraniana espontânea e complicações

ABSTRACT Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a syndrome that was unknown until the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a cause of orthostatic headache, which remains underdiagnosed and, rarely, can result in several complications including dural venous sinus thrombosis, subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Some of these complications are potentially life-threatening and should be recognized promptly, mainly by imaging studies. We reviewed the MRI of nine patients with SIH and describe the complications observed in three of these patients. Two of them had subdural hematoma and one had a dural venous sinus thrombosis detected by computed tomography and MRI. We concluded that MRI findings are of great importance in the diagnosis of SIH and its complications, which often influence the clinical-surgical treatment of the patient.

RESUMO Hipotensão Intracraniana Espontânea (HIE) é uma síndrome desconhecida até o advento das imagens de Ressonância Magnética (RM). É uma causa de cefaleia ortostática que permanece subdiagnosticada e raramente resulta em complicações, como trombose de seios venosos durais, hematoma subdural e hemorragia subaracnoidea. Algumas dessas complicações são potencialmente ameaçadoras à vida e devem ser prontamente reconhecidas pelos estudos de imagem. Nós revisamos as RM de 9 pacientes com HIE e descrevemos as complicações observadas em 3 casos. Dois deles tiveram hematoma subdural e um teve trombose de seio venoso dural detectados por tomografia computadorizada e RM. Concluímos que achados de RM são de grande importância no diagnóstico de HIE e suas complicações, frequentemente influenciando o tratamento clínico-cirúrgico do paciente.

Trombosis venosa cerebral asociada a consumo de sildenafil / Cerebral venous thrombosis associated with sildenafil intake

Se presentó un paciente masculino de 59 años de edad, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y consumo regular de sildenafil, que ingresó en el servicio de ictus por presentar convulsión aguda y cefalea. Al examen físico se detectó hemiplejia izquierda. Mediante resonancia magnética nuclear de cráneo, con gadolinio se observó lesión expansiva que captó contraste de forma heterogénea. Se planteó el diagnóstico de posible glioma cerebral de alto grado. Se realizó craneotomía frontoparietal derecha y no se visualizó lesión tumoral. Después de descartar la presencia de un glioma de alto grado se valoró el diagnóstico de infarto venoso hemorrágico. Se efectuó angioTAC y estudio de trombofilia para descartar estados protrombóticos que justificaran dicha entidad nosológica. Los estudios de hematología especial se encontraron dentro de valores normales. Se concluyó el caso como una trombosis de senos venosos asociada al consumo de sildenafil(AU)

A 59 year-old male patient with a history of hypertension and regular consumption of sildenafil entered the service because of acute stroke and headache seizure. Physical examination detected left hemiplegia. By skull nuclear gadolinium magnetic resonance, an expansive lesion is observed which caught heterogeneously contrast. Possible diagnosis of high-grade brain glioma was raised. Right frontoparietal craniotomy was performed and a tumor lesion was not visualized. After ruling out the presence of high-grade glioma, the diagnosis of hemorrhagic venous infarction was assessed. CT angiography and clotting was made to rule out prothrombotic states to justify this disease entity. Special hematology studies were within normal values. The case was concluded as a venous sinus thrombosis associated with the use of sildenafil(AU)

Trombosis de senos venosos cerebrales en la enfermedad de Behçet / Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in Behcet's disease

La enfermedad de Behçet es una vasculitis sistémica inmunomediada que afecta los pequeños vasos sanguíneos y se presenta frecuentemente con ulceraciones de las membranas mucosas y síntomas oculares. Se presentó un paciente masculino de 25 años de edad, con antecedentes de úlceras bucales y genitales recurrentes, foliculitis, eritema nudoso, lesiones papulo-pustulosas, el cual tenía, desde 3 meses antes de su presentación en nuestro servicio, manifestaciones clínicas compatibles con un síndrome de hipertensión endocraneana benigna que no logra una evolución favorable con el tratamiento. Mediante la angio-TAC de cráneo se identificó una trombosis de senos venosos cerebrales. Los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos son compatibles con una enfermedad de Behçet(AU)

Behcet's disease is an immune-mediated systemic vasculitis that affects small blood vessels and it frequently presents with ulceration of the mucous membranes and eye symptoms. A 25 year-old male patient is presented with history of recurrent cold sores and genital folliculitis, erythema nodosum, papular-pustular lesions. For three months before submission to our service, this patient had clinical manifestations compatible with benign intracranial hypertension syndrome that fails favorable evolution with treatment. By skull venuos CTA, venous sinus cerebral thrombosis was identified. Clinical and radiological findings are compatible with Behcet's disease(AU)

Two women with cerebral venous thrombosis: oral contraceptives? / Dos mujeres con trombosis venosa cerebral: ¿anticonceptivos orales?

Two cases of cerebral venous thrombosis are reported. Patients were apparently healthy 39 and 28year old females with nonspecific presenting features. Image findings were characteristic of cerebral sinus thrombosis. The younger patient received progesterone to treat placental abruption eight years previously; she had cerebral venous thrombosis while using oral contraception. Both patients had used contraceptive pills for a long time. Oral hormonal contraceptives may increase the risk of vascular events, even in people without personal or family history of venous thrombosis. Modern imaging methods have contributed to early diagnosis, but the possibility of under diagnosis still persists. This report aims to increase the awareness of healthworkers about cerebral venous thrombosis in women, an entity often misdiagnosed, under diagnosed and underreported.

Se informan dos casos de trombosis venosa cerebral. Las pacientes eran mujeres aparentemente saludables, 39 y 28años de edad, con presentación clínica nonespecífica. Los dados de exámenes de imagen eran característicos de trombosis del seno cerebral. La paciente más joven recibió progesterona para tratar desprendimiento de placenta, y ocho años antes había presentado trombosis venosa cerebral mientras usando anticoncepción oral. Ambas pacientes habían usado las píldoras anticoncepcionales durante mucho tiempo. Los contraceptivos hormonales orales pueden aumentar el riesgo de eventos vasculares, incluso en las personas sin antecedente personal o familiar de trombosis venosa. Las nuevas técnicas de imágenes han contribuido al diagnóstico temprano, pero la posibilidad de diagnóstico insospechado todavía persiste. El propósito de este informe es aumentar el índice de sospecha de profesionales de la salud sobre la trombosis venosa cerebral en mujeres, entidad a menudo erróneamente diagnosticada, infradiagnosticada y no reportada.

Dural sinus thrombosis: frequency and imaging diagnosis

To determine the frequency of dural sinus thrombosis [DST] and highlight diagnostic importance of its subtle imaging findings in patients presenting for workup of their varied neurologic complaints and symptoms. Observational case series. Study Period: June 2002- May 2005. All new patients undergoing cranial computed tomography [CT] and magnetic resonance [MR] imaging were included in this study which consisted of 1676 consecutive subjects with 1780 examinations. These were reviewed in real time on monitors [as they were being performed] for evidence of DST before printing of hard copies prior to disposition of patients. CT studies were performed on Toshiba Auklet scanner with 5 mm thick axial slices and 1cm inter slice gap. MR imaging was performed on 1.5 Tesla Toshiba Visart scanner with T1 and T2 weighted [T1 and T2W], spin echo, FLAIR and post contrast T1 weighted [T1W] imaging in multiple planes. Subjects with inconclusive but suspicious conventional imaging [CT, MR] were evaluated by magnetic resonance venography [MRV]. Patients presenting for follow-up of established diagnoses including neoplasia, arterial infarcts, hypertensive parenchymal haemorrhages and postsurgical status were excluded. Delta and empty delta were the most commonly observed CT and MR signs diagnostic of DST on pre and postcontrast images and were present in 43 patients. Thrombus was also directly visible within lumen of superior sagittal, transverse and sigmoid sinuses on T1W MR images in 21 individuals. In 12 patients, these signs were either absent or too subtle to be conclusive. However, presence of venous haemorrhagic or non-haemorrhagic brain parenchymal edematous lesions prompted further evaluation by MRV, which confirmed presence of DST in these subjects as well. As a result, a total of 55 patients with a frequency of 3.3% were diagnosed and treated for DST. Frequency of DST in patients with neurological complaints and symptoms is 3.3%, which is significantly higher than has been clinically suspected or recognized. On routine CT and MR studies, diagnostic imaging signs, while highly specific for DST, can be absent or may be masked due to technical factors or associated complications. Presence of brain parenchymal venous haemorrhagic or non-haemorrhagic edematous lesions should prompt judicious and close scrutiny of images on monitors by changing viewing parameters to detect subtle signs of DST. If still in doubt, MRV must be pursued for definitive diagnosis