User:Mr. Ibrahem/Cavernous sinus thrombosis

Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Oblique section through the cavernous sinus.
Specialty	Neurology
Symptoms	Headache, eye pain, bulging eyes, fever, double vision
Complications	Meningitis, brain abscess, pituitary insufficiency
Types	Septic (infection), aseptic (no infection)
Risk factors	Boil of the nose, sinusitis, dental infection, injury, surgery, easy blood clot formation
Diagnostic method	CT scan or MRI
Differential diagnosis	Carotid cavernous fistula, meningioma, orbital cellulitis
Treatment	Antibiotics, heparin, corticosteroids, surgery
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	Up to 30% die

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is the formation of a blood clot within the cavernous sinus, a cavity at the base of the brain which drains blood from the brain back to the heart. Symptoms may include headache, eye pain, bulging eyes, fever, and double vision. Often one eye is involved initially followed by involvement of the second eye. Complications may include meningitis, brain abscess, and pituitary insufficiency.

There are two types–septic (infection) and aseptic (not infection). Risk factors include infections of the face such as boils on the nose, sinusitis, and dental infections. The bacteria most commonly involved include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus. Other risk factors include injury, surgery, and easy blood clot formation. Diagnosis is generally based on either CT scan or MRI. It is a type of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

It is a medical emergency. Treatment may include antibiotics, heparin, and corticosteroids. Occasionally surgery is required to drain an abscess the contributed to the condition. Up to 30% of people die, despite treatment. Among those who survive vision loss and seizures may occur. Cavernous sinus thrombosis is rare, affecting possibly 0.2 to 1.6 people per 100,000 per year.