Cavernous sinus thrombosis

Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Headache, fever, eye swelling, vision problems
Complications	Meningitis, Sepsis, Stroke
Onset	Sudden
Duration	Variable
Types	N/A
Causes	Infection, Trauma
Risks	Sinusitis, Facial infections
Diagnosis	MRI, CT scan, Blood culture
Differential diagnosis	N/A
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Antibiotics, Anticoagulation, Surgery
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a rare but serious condition characterized by the formation of a blood clot within the cavernous sinus, a cavity at the base of the skull through which important nerves and the internal carotid artery pass. This condition can lead to severe complications due to its proximity to critical structures.

Anatomy

The cavernous sinus is a paired structure located on either side of the sella turcica, a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone of the skull. It contains the internal carotid artery and several cranial nerves, including the oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), abducens nerve (CN VI), and the first two branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V1 and CN V2).

Causes

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is most commonly caused by the spread of infection from the sinuses, particularly the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. Other causes include:

• Facial infections, such as furuncles or cellulitis
• Trauma to the face or skull
• Dental infections

Symptoms

Symptoms of CST can develop rapidly and may include:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Swelling and redness around the eyes
• Double vision or vision loss
• Proptosis (bulging of the eye)
• Ophthalmoplegia (paralysis of eye muscles)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of CST is based on clinical suspicion and confirmed through imaging studies such as:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan
• Blood cultures to identify the causative organism

Treatment

Treatment of cavernous sinus thrombosis involves:

• High-dose intravenous antibiotics to treat the underlying infection
• Anticoagulation therapy to prevent further clot formation
• Surgical intervention in some cases to drain infected sinuses or abscesses

Prognosis

The prognosis for CST varies depending on the speed of diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention can lead to a good outcome, but delays can result in serious complications such as:

• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Stroke

Also see

• Sinusitis
• Meningitis
• Sepsis
• Thrombosis
• Ophthalmoplegia