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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Stenosis of the Inferior Vena Cava: A Murine Model of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Published on: December 22, 2017
Sinovenous thrombosis in children
Manohar Shroff1, Gabrielle deVeber
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
Insights
Childhood cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) is a serious condition often missed. Early diagnosis and anticoagulation treatment are crucial for improving outcomes and reducing long-term neurological deficits in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Childhood cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) is increasingly recognized but frequently misdiagnosed.
- Neonates face a substantially higher risk of CSVT and associated severe sequelae compared to older children.
- CSVT in children results in significant long-term adverse outcomes, including death or neurological deficits in nearly 50% of cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding and management of childhood CSVT.
- To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment strategies.
- To discuss the role of advancing neuroimaging in improving detection and understanding of CSVT.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood CSVT.
- Analysis of current treatment approaches, including the growing evidence for anticoagulation.
- Evaluation of the impact of evolving neuroimaging techniques on CSVT diagnosis and research.
Main Results:
- Childhood CSVT presents diagnostic challenges, with neonates being a particularly high-risk group.
- Anticoagulation is increasingly supported as a treatment due to unacceptable adverse outcomes with empiric management.
- Advancements in noninvasive, economical neuroimaging are expected to improve detection rates and patient stratification.
Conclusions:
- Childhood CSVT requires heightened clinical awareness for timely diagnosis.
- Evidence supports anticoagulation therapy for CSVT in children, mirroring adult treatment protocols.
- Future multi-national trials, aided by improved neuroimaging, are essential for evidence-based treatments and reduced morbidity/mortality.
Abstract:
Sinus thrombosis in children is increasingly recognized; however, the diagnosis is still frequently missed. Children may have an increased incidence of this disorder compared with adults, and neonates are at greatly increased risk compared with older children. Childhood CSVT carries significant long-term sequelae that include death or neurologic deficits in nearly 50% of cases. Neonates are not spared from these sequelae. At present, the approach to treatment is empiric but in the past decade treatment with anti-coagulants is supported by the unacceptable rates of adverse outcomes, the pathophysiology of CSVT, and the data supporting the efficacy and safety of anti-coagulation for adult CSVT. Among the most significant current and future developments in childhood CSVT is the evolution of accurate, noninvasive and economical neuroimaging techniques. The latter techniques have the potential to increase the detection rate of childhood CSVT, improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and define important subgroups of patients who best respond to treatment. An international interest in childhood CSVT is developing and, in the next decade, will enable the necessary multi-national clinical trials to provide evidence-based treatments and decrease the adverse outcomes.
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