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Case Reports
. 2025 Jun 10;17(6):e85742.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.85742. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Extensive Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis at High Altitude

Jamal Ouachaou  1 , Driouich Aicha  1 , Mohammed Sidayne  1 , Fatimazahrae El Khettab  1 , Youssef Zarrouki  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Extensive Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis at High Altitude

Jamal Ouachaou et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Rapid ascent to altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,500 meters) is known to be associated with acute mountain sickness (AMS), but its role as a cause of cerebrovascular disorders is rarely described. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare and potentially fatal condition that can frequently be misdiagnosed. In this article, we report an unusual case of a 27-year-old woman who developed an extensive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) during an expedition in the Atlas Mountains. The underlying mechanisms explaining this event will be discussed in light of this clinical observation.

Keywords: acute mountain sickness; anticoagulation; cerebral edema; cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; cerebrovascular disease; high altitude; magnetic resonance imaging (mri).

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Thrombosis of superior sagittal and transverse sinuses with the empty delta sign (orange arrow)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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