European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral venous thrombosis is a relatively uncommon disorder which has
an estimated annual incidence between two to seven cases per million in the general
population. 1 The incidence was likely underestimated before the advent of prompt noninvasive
imaging methods. It is estimated that five to eight cases per year might be seen
at a referral centre. Cerebral venous thrombosis or occlusion by extrinsic compression
that eventually progresses to a complete occlusion is an elusive diagnosis because of its
non-specific presentation and its numerous predisposing causes which can precipitate
the condition. It often affects young and middle-aged patients which more commonly
involved in women. It is an uncommon cause of cerebral infarction relative to arterial
disease which is an important consideration because of its potential morbidity. The
imaging characteristics of CVT that can be observed through MRI include: (1) brain
parenchymal imaging that appears in the form of non-specific lesions, such as
intracerebral hemorrhages or infarcts, edema, isolated or associated with infarcts or
hemorrhages, and it can even be considered normal in about 30% of patients.9 MRV
features include non-visualization of the arterial & venous vessels (i.e., no flow), flow
defect and presence of collaterals at the site of occlusion.