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Sinus thrombosis, or venous sinus thrombosis, is a rare type of blood clot found within the dural venous sinuses. The condition is often difficult to diagnose because symptoms vary from person to person depending on the location of the clot.
There are three types of venous sinus thrombosis:
UPMC neurosurgeons may recommend a combination of surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treating sinus thrombosis.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you about any symptoms you are experiencing. Symptoms of venous sinus thrombosis may include:
Your doctor also may want you to have imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis. These tests will include:
Clot removal using catheters and other specialized equipment, antibiotics, and anticoagulation drugs are the main methods used for the treatment of venous sinus thrombosis.
Your physician may recommend one or a combination of these treatments.
High doses of intravenous antibiotics may be used to stop the spread of infection if it is identified as the source of the problem.
People are usually placed on intravenous antibiotics for a minimum of three weeks, because the clot often resists penetration of the antibiotics.
People with severe symptoms caused by sinus thrombosis can be treated by an endovascular procedure in order to mechanically open the sinus or with the use of medications called thrombolitics.
Some patients may need a ventricular peritoneal shunt procedure to keep the intracranial pressure normalized.
Neurosurgery at UPMC: A powerful team approach
Dr. Robert M. Friedlander discusses the team approach to treating neurosurgical patients.
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