Sigmoid Sinus Thrombosis After Mild Closed Head Injury in an Infant: Diagnosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Acute Phase Case Report

• Published in: Neurologia medico-chirurgica Vol. 40; no. 7; pp. 361 - 365
• Main Authors: SATOH, Hideki, KUMANO, Kiyoshi, OGAMI, Ryo, NISHI, Tohru, ONDA, Jun, NISHIMURA, Shigeru, KURISU, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japan Neurosurgical Society 01.07.2000
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Cerebral Angiography; closed head injury; Cranial Sinuses - injuries; Female; Head Injuries, Closed - diagnosis; Humans; Infant; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; sigmoid sinus; sinus thrombosis; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial - diagnosis
• ISSN: 0470-8105; 1349-8029
• DOI: 10.2176/nmc.40.361

Intracranial sinus thrombosis following a mild closed head injury without a skull fracture or intracranial hematoma is extremely rare. A 23-month-old girl presented with vomiting and gait ataxia 1 day after occipital trauma. Computed tomography revealed a slightly increased density area in the region of the left sigmoid sinus. T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated an isointense area in the left sigmoid sinus and T2-weighted imaging showed a hyperintense area reflecting the characteristics of oxyhemoglobin. MR angiography and cerebral angiography indicated occlusion of the left sigmoid sinus. After 4 days of conservative treatment, her symptoms subsided completely. Follow-up MR angiography and cerebral angiography showed recanalization of the sigmoid sinus. The MR images and MR angiograms were useful for both early diagnosis and follow-up. Treatment should reflect the severity of individual cases, and early diagnosis will help achieve a good outcome.