Unilateral Internal Cerebral Vein Thrombosis: Imaging of an Uncommon Case and Literature Review

Abstract

Cerebral venous thrombosis without prompt diagnosis and timely treatment can result in detrimental outcomes including cerebral edema, hemorrhagic venous infarct, neurological deficits and death. Patients with deep cerebral venous thrombosis have a poorer prognosis with 29.4% suffering lifelong dependence or death. Unilateral internal cerebral venous thrombosis is an uncommon and potentially life-threatening entity not widely published in literature. It is paramount for radiologists to recognize its imaging features to make a prompt diagnosis at the early stage of the disease, allowing timely intervention. In this article, we present the imaging findings of an uncommon case of unilateral acute internal cerebral venous thrombosis, provide a literature review and explore the reason behind the apparent preferential thrombosis of the left internal cerebral vein. We also discuss the diagnostic accuracy and pitfalls of commonly used imaging modalities in detecting cerebral venous thrombosis.