Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Headache

Abstract

Purpose of review: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a neurovascular disease caused by a thrombotic occlusion of either a dural sinus or cerebral vein. CVT results in a variety of neurological symptoms with the most common being headache. The purpose of this review is to characterize CVT, describe the headache pattern, and, finally, provide an update to date review of diagnostic and treatment options for this condition.

Recent findings: CVT is a very difficult disease to diagnose due to the variability in both patient presentation and imaging findings. Recent literature has attempted to standardize its risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment modalities. Additionally, new laboratory studies are being investigated for CVT patients who present with isolated headaches. CVT is a debilitating disease requiring immediate medical or surgical intervention. Because the disease can mask as a multitude of neurological deficits, patients are not properly diagnosed. Headache is the most common patient presentation. The quality of this headache is highly variable with no specific location or pattern. New literature has provided insight into potential diagnostic and treatment options for CVT patients. However, further large-scale cohort studies are necessary to standardize the care for this disease.

Keywords: Cerebral venous thrombosis; Cerebral venous thrombosis headache; Thrombosis, isolated headache, headache in young; Thunderclap headache.