II. Pathophysiology
- Most common infection of dural sinus thrombosis
- Sources
- Mid-face infections near the eyes and nose (e.g. nasal Furuncle)
- Sphenoid Sinus or Ethmoid Sinus infection
- Dental Infection (uncommon)
III. Symptoms
- Initial (first 1-2 days)
- Headache (most common
- Sharp pain increasing in severity becoming refractory and interferes with sleep
- Unilateral frontal and retroorbital Headache (Trigeminal Nerve ophthalmic and Maxillary branches)
- Headache (most common
- Next
IV. Signs
- Classic, severe presentation
- Eye findings
- Lateral Gaze Palsy (CN 6)
- Eye looks down and laterally (CN 3)
- Eyelid Ptosis
- Mydriasis
- Fundus Exam (abnormal in two thirds of patients)
- Papilledema
- Dilated tortuous Retinal veins
- Other neurologic findings
- Trigeminal Nerve (CN 5) deficits
V. Imaging
- Orbital CT with contrast
- MRI with gadolinium enhancement
VI. Management
-
Antibiotics
- MRSA coverage and initial empiric management
- Vancomycin 15-20 mg/kg (up to 2 g) IV every 8-12 hours AND
- Ceftriaxone 2 g IV every 12 hours or Cefepime 2 g IV every 8-12 hours
- Add Metronidazole 500 mg every 8 hours for Dental Infection (or higher dose for Brain Abscess)
- MSSA coverage (if confirmed by culture)
- MRSA coverage and initial empiric management
-
Anticoagulation
- Heparin (still recommended as of 2016)
-
Glucocorticoids
- Dexamethasone 10 mg IV every 6 hours
- Surgery
- Emergent surgical drainage of Sphenoid Sinus should be considered
VII. References
- Southwick (2016) Septic Dural Sinus Thrombosis, UpToDate, accessed online 4/8/2016
- (2016) Sanford Guide, accessed on IPad App 4/8/2016
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Related Studies
| Definition (MSH) | Formation or presence of a blood clot (THROMBUS) in the CAVERNOUS SINUS of the brain. Infections of the paranasal sinuses and adjacent structures, CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA, and THROMBOPHILIA are associated conditions. Clinical manifestations include dysfunction of cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI, marked periorbital swelling, chemosis, fever, and visual loss. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p711) |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D020226 |
| SnomedCT | 89980009 |
| English | Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis, Cerebr ven thromb of caver sin, thrombosis of cavernous sinus, thrombosis of cavernous sinus (diagnosis), Cavernous sinus thrombosis, Cavernous Sinus Thromboses, Sinus Thromboses, Cavernous, Sinus Thrombosis, Cavernous, Thromboses, Cavernous Sinus, Thrombosis, Cavernous Sinus, Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis [Disease/Finding], sinus cavernous thrombosis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, thrombosis cavernous sinus, Thrombosis of cavernous venous sinus, Cerebral venous thrombosis of cavernous sinus, Thrombosis of cavernous venous sinus (disorder), cavernous; thrombosis, thrombosis; cavernous |
| Italian | Trombosi di seno cavernoso, Trombosi del seno cavernoso |
| Swedish | Sinus cavernosustrombos |
| Japanese | ｶｲﾒﾝｼﾞｮｳﾐｬｸﾄﾞｳｹｯｾﾝｼｮｳ, 血栓-海綿静脈洞, 敗血症性静脈炎-海綿静脈洞, 海綿静脈洞敗血症性静脈炎, 血栓症-海綿静脈洞, 海綿静脈洞血栓, 海綿静脈洞血栓症 |
| Czech | sinus cavernosus - trombóza, Trombóza kavernózního splavu |
| Finnish | Lokeroveriviemärin tromboosi |
| Russian | FLEBIT SEPTICHESKII KAVERNOZNOGO SINUSA, KAVERNOZNOGO SINUSA TROMBOZ, KAVERNOZNOGO SINUSA FLEBIT SEPTICHESKII, КАВЕРНОЗНОГО СИНУСА ТРОМБОЗ, КАВЕРНОЗНОГО СИНУСА ФЛЕБИТ СЕПТИЧЕСКИЙ, ФЛЕБИТ СЕПТИЧЕСКИЙ КАВЕРНОЗНОГО СИНУСА |
| Polish | Zakrzepica zatoki jamistej |
| Hungarian | sinus cavernosus thrombosis |
| Spanish | trombosis del seno venoso cavernoso (trastorno), trombosis de seno venoso cavernoso, trombosis de seno venoso cavernoso (trastorno), trombosis del seno venoso cavernoso, Trombosis del seno cavernoso, Trombosis del Seno Cavernoso |
| Norwegian | Sinus cavernosus-trombose |
| Dutch | caverneus; trombose, trombose; caverneuze, sinus cavernosus trombose, Sinus-cavernosustrombose, Trombose van de sinus cavernosus, Trombose, sinus-cavernosus- |
| Portuguese | Trombose do seio cavernoso, Trombose do Corpo Cavernoso |
| German | Thrombose des Sinus cavernosus, Sinus-cavernosus-Thrombose, Thrombose, Sinus cavernosus |
| French | Thrombose du sinus caverneux |
Ontology: Cavernous Sinus Thrombophlebitis (C0270638)
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D020226 |
| SnomedCT | 31314003, 192770001 |
| English | Thrombophleb. cavernous sinus, Cavernous Sinus Thrombophlebitides, Sinus Thrombophlebitides, Cavernous, Sinus Thrombophlebitis, Cavernous, Thrombophlebitides, Cavernous Sinus, Thrombophlebitis, Cavernous Sinus, Thrombophlebitis of cavernous venous sinus (disorder), thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus (diagnosis), Thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus, Thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus (disorder), cavernous; thrombophlebitis, thrombophlebitis; cavernous, Cavernous Sinus Thrombophlebitis, Thrombophlebitis of cavernous venous sinus |
| French | Thrombophlébite du sinus caverneux, Thrombo-phlébite du sinus caverneux |
| German | Thrombophlebitis, Sinus cavernosus |
| Norwegian | Sinus cavernosus-tromboflebitt |
| Spanish | tromboflebitis del seno venoso cavernoso, tromboflebitis del seno venoso cavernoso (trastorno), tromboflebitis de seno cavernoso (trastorno), tromboflebitis de seno cavernoso |
| Italian | Tromboflebite del seno cavernoso |
| Dutch | caverneus; tromboflebitis, tromboflebitis; caverneuze |
Ontology: Septic thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus (C0393511)
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| SnomedCT | 302879007 |
| English | Sept thrombophlebit cavern sin, Septic thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus (diagnosis), thrombophlebitis septic of cavernous sinus, Septic thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus, Septic thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus (disorder) |
| Spanish | tromboflebitis séptica de seno cavernoso (trastorno), tromboflebitis séptica de seno cavernoso |
