Clinical and radiological characteristics of cerebral vein thrombosis: a retrospective study

Abstract

Cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) is a rare type of stroke that can present with a wide range of symptoms and signs, making it challenging to differentiate from other neurological conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of cerebral vein thrombosis patients. This descriptive analysis included 103 CVT patients registered in two centers, one in Saudi Arabia and one in Oman. The study covered all patients who presented to these centers from 2006 to 2020 with a confirmed diagnosis. Out of the 103 CVT patients included in the study, 32% were male, and 68% were female, with a mean age of 39 years. Headache was the commonest presenting symptom, followed by seizures. Identifiable risk factors were observed in most patients, with oral contraceptive pills and pregnancy being the most prevalent risk factors. The transverse sinus was the most commonly involved sinus, followed by the sagittal sinus, while intracerebral bleeding was present in 22% of patients. CVT is an uncommon type of stroke that affects individuals in the middle age group, particularly child-bearing age females. The clinical characteristics of CVT vary, with headache being the most prevalent clinical presentation, and its diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion.