Is timely diagnosis of Cortical Venous Thrombosis a challenge?
The diagnosis of the disease is usually by computed tomography (CT/CAT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) employing radiocontrast to demonstrate obstruction of the venous sinuses by thrombus.Treatment is with anticoagulants (drugs that suppresses blood clotting), and rarely thrombolysis (enzymatic destruction of the blood clot). Since there is usually an underlying cause for the disease, tests may be performed to look for these. The diagnosis may be suspected on the basis of the symptoms, for example the combination of headache, signs of raised intercranial pressure and focal neurological abnormalities, or when alternative causes of headache and neurological abnormalities, such as a subarachnoid hemorrhage, have been excluded.The disease may be however complicated by raised intracranial pressure, which may warrant surgical intervention such as the placement of a shunt.So like heart attack or cerebral stroke,early intervention is always welcome.
