Transverse and Sigmoid Venous Thrombosis Presenting as Proptosis and Acute Loss of Vision: An Unreported Association

Abstract

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare disorder characterized by thrombosis in the venous channels of the brain. Nonspecific symptoms such as headache, focal neurologic deficits and seizures make this condition difficult to diagnose. We describe a case of cerebral venous thrombosis in the sigmoid and transverse sinuses which presented as reversible, rapid-onset proptosis and loss of vision in a patient of subclinical hypothyroidism. Such an occurrence of proptosis due to thrombosis of the sigmoid and transverse sinuses has never been reported in literature. The diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis in this patient was arrived at in a stepwise fashion.
 Thus, this case in addition to reporting a novel finding, stresses by example, the importance of acute suspicion on part of the physician for timely diagnosis and treatment of this eluding yet reversible disease.