OBJECTIVE: Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis (CSVT) is a rare, but serious neurological disorder. Its incidence is 0.55 -0.67 /10⁵ per year and most of cases (30-40%)  are in the newborn period.

METHODS

In this study, thirteen patients with CSVT followed up  at Ege University, Pediatrics   Department,  Child Neurology Division between November 2007 and February 2018 were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Their ages at the diagnosis  ranged  between 0-17.5 years (median 6 years).  One patient was diagnosed during neonatal period.  Girls/boys rate was 6 / 7.  The main complaints at the admission were headache (69.2%), diplopia (53.8%) and altered mental status (38.4%) in order of frequency. Papilledema was present  in ten cases. The most common etiologies were  sinusitis / mastoiditis / otitis (7) and Behçet's disease (3) . In addition to these, malignancy and central catheter use (1), obesity and smoking (1) antiphospholipid antibody (1) active protein C resistance (2) were detected. LMWH was initiated in all cases with thrombosis proven by cranial MRI, MRV and the treatment was continued for 3-6 months due to the recanalization. On follow up, subsequent cranial nerve palsy and hemiparesis (15.4%) were detected as sequelae in one patient  . No mortality was observed in our patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although CSVT is rare in childhood, because of the risk of morbidity and mortality, early diagnosis and treatment with  anticoagulant therapy is very important.