Prospective study of cortical sinovenous thrombosis value of CT scan and imaging

Forty two consecutive cases of cortical sino venous thrombosis (CSVT) diagnosed by computerised tomographic scan (CT scan) and or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) constituted the study material. Clinical features are similar despite of varied aetiology. Stroke like presentation was seen in 20 (48 percent) patients, features of raised intracranial pressure were seen in 14 (33 percent) patients and the remaining presented with diffuse encephalopathic features. No definitive aetiological factor could be found in 7 (17 percent) patients. Main CT scan features included empty delta sign (43 percent), cord sign (31 percent) and haemorrhagic or non haemorrhagic infarcts (62 percent), and CT scan was non diagnostic in 6 (14 percent) patients. The MRI imaging features included hyperintense signals in the sinuses more often in sagittal sinus with or without haemorrhagic infarct.