Diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis: a single centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral venous thrombosis is a serious cerebrovascular disease. Due to the variability of clinical symptoms and the scarcity of occurrence, this diagnosis is often delayed. The aim of the study was to describe the risk factors, the initial findings and the imaging methods that lead to the diagnosis. METHODS: We included 34 patients treated for cerebral venous thrombosis in the years 2004-2016. We retrospectively analyzed demographic data, initial clinical symptoms, baseline D-dimer levels, risk factors, time to diagnosis, and MR findings. RESULTS: The most common initial clinical symptom was headache (28 patients, 82.4%). Focal neurological symptoms or signs of encephalopathy developed in 22 patients (64.7%). In 26 patients, we identified at least one risk factor in their history. In women of childbearing potential, 68% of patients (15/22) were taking hormonal contraceptives; in six people the diagnosis was immediately preceded by inflammation. In all patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by MR venography. Positive hereditary thrombophilic conditions were identified in 68% and acquired in 8% of 25 examined patients. In 22 cases, baseline D-dimer levels were examined and found to be increased in 86% of them. The mean time from the first onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 6.9 days. CONCLUSION: Cerebral venous thrombosis has a variable clinical course and the diagnosis is determined a relatively long time after the onset of symptoms. Atypical headache in the patient's history and a set of risk factors are the key findings for indication of imaging methods and confirmation of the diagnosis.