Obstruction of cerebral venous sinus secondary to idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Eur J Neurol. 2008 Dec;15(12):1416-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02340.x.

Abstract

Background: Whether cerebral venous sinus obstruction is a cause or consequence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is uncertain.

Methods and results: Among the nine children with IIH, five showed stenosis (n = 5) and occlusion (n = 1) of cerebral venous sinus on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (n = 4) or conventional angiography (n = 1), respectively. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging performed in four children showed complete regression of the venous pathology in one and partial regression in two of them.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that cerebral venous sinus obstruction is frequent and frequently transient in pediatric IIH and suggest that stenoses may result from elevated intracranial pressure.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Causality
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Child
  • Cranial Sinuses / pathology*
  • Cranial Sinuses / physiopathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypertension / complications*
  • Intracranial Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / complications*
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / physiopathology
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / etiology*
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / physiopathology