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NEUROSURGERY
Copyright © 1983 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Brief communications

Vol. 12. No. 1. 1983
Printed in U.S.A.

Superior Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis after Closed Head Injury

W. Lynn Stringer, M.D. and S. J. Peerless, M.D.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is a rare but often fatal complication of closed head injury. We present a case diagnosed
by computed tomography (CT) and managed with corticosteroids and anticonvulsants with a favorable outcome. The
clinical aspects and CT findings of this disease are discussed. ( Neurosurgery 12:95-97, 1983)

Key words: Anticonvulsant, Brain trauma, Complication, Computed tomography,

us thrombosis

INTRODUCTION

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is a rare complication of
closed head injury most often discovered at autopsy (1, 5). We
are presenting such a case in an elderly patient that was
diagnosed by computed tomography and managed conserva-
tively, with a favorable outcome.

CASE REPORT

An 82-year-old woman accidently fell down a flight of stairs,
fracturing her right arm and striking her head on a concrete
floor. On initial examination, she was disoriented and combat-
ive. Blood was present in the right external auditory canal. She
was deaf in both ears. No focal neurological deficits were
noted. Skull and cervical spine x-ray films were normal. She
was taken to the operating room for debridement and reduction
of the compound forearm fracture.

Two days after admission, she developed a right peripheral
7th nerve palsy. her level of consciousness deteriorated, and
her temperature rose to 38.9°C. A complete blood count.
electrolyte determinations, and the blood urea nitrogen and
creatinine values were all normal. Computed tomography (CT)
showed a small left temporoparietal subdural hematoma with
underlying brain contusion. Blood, urine, sputum, and spinal
fluid cultures were all negative. Dexamethasone was begun.

The patient improved over the next few days until 9 days
after admission. when she developed focal seizures involving
the left face. Anticonvulsant therapy was begun. Repeat CT
showed a new hemorrhagic lesion in the right parietal para-
sagittal region and. after contrast infusion. an abnormal filling
defect in the posterior portion of the superior sagittal sinus
(Fig. 1). A radionuclide brain scan was normal. An aortic arch
aortogram with oblique and lateral head views (Fig. 2) showed
dilated and tortuous veins of the cerebral surface with the deep
medullary veins of the white matter similarly serving as collat-
erals. There was no filling of the posterior superior sagittal
sinus, and partial thrombosis of both transverse sinuses was
probable. The patient was continued on phenytoin and dexa-
methasone with careful hydration. The seizures subsided. Over
the next few weeks. she gradually improved until she was
conversant but disoriented. She required nasogastric feedings

Corticosteroid, Head injury. Sagittal

to maintain adequate hydration and is awaiting placement in
an extended care facility.

DISCUSSION

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSST) is usually consid-
ered an infrequent condition associated with high mortality.
The true incidence is not known, although Towbin reported a
9% incidence in 189 consecutive autopsies in a general hospital
(10). The patients were mostly over 60 and had associated
pulmonary emboli and congestive heart failure. SSST appears
mainly in two specific age groups at the extremes of life. the
newborn and the aged, and is usually due to antecedent cir-
culatory failure. Other causes include: infection of the scalp,
skull, or bony sinus: dehydration and cachexia; blood dyscra-
sias: metabolic derangements: pregnancy and puerperium: oral
contraceptives: brain tumor: and head trauma (6).

Holmes and Sargent first reported 70 cases of wartime
injuries to the superior longitudinal sinus, all SSST without
penetrating injury or skull fracture (7). Barnett and Hyland
later reported 3 similar cases (3). Carrie and Jaffé described
SSST in 2 children with closed head injury incurred in motor
vehicle accidents (5). Postmortem findings led them to conclude
that the thrombus was due to endothelial damage and intra-
mural hemorrhage of the sinus wall.

The symptoms and signs of SSST may present in two
patterns: one with headache and papilledema due to elevated
intracranial pressure and one with focal signs of paralysis and
focal seizures due to cortical vein thrombosis and cerebral
venous infarction (6. 8).

Antemortem diagnosis of SSST has been made with venous
sinography. angiography. nuclear brain scan, and, most re-
cently, CT (9), Buonanno et al. reported 11 cases of SSST
diagnosed with CT and confirmed by angiography or autopsy
and discussed the CT findings (4). CT signs of small ventricles.
gyral enhancement in a distribution of venous infarcts. and
multiple focal bilateral parasagittal hemorrhages may be seen.
The most reliable sign, however, is the “empty triangle” or
“negative delta” sign seen on the contrast-enhanced scan.
confirming the presence of isodense clot within the sinus
enclosed by an area of engorged vessels. This sign is seen on
cuts slicing perpendicularly across the posterior aspect of the

Fic. 1, Follow-up CT shows filling defects in the posterior superior sagittal sinus seen on multiple cuts on contrast-enhanced scans (arrows)—the

“empty triangle.”

Fic, 2. Aortic arch aortogram with lateral (4) and oblique (B) head views showing dilated sur
of the posterior superior sagittal sinus (/arge arrows)

96

January 1983

sinus On postinfusion scans. It must be seen on cuts at different
levels to differentiate it from a high splitting of the sinus.
Coronal reconstruction may be of value in clarifying this sign.

The treatment of SSST should be aimed at correcting the
predisposing condition, along with a regimen to reduce edema
and anticonvulsant agents. Anticoagulant therapy has been
advocated in some cases, but is clearly hazardous in the face of
recent cerebral trauma. No comparative studies of the efficacy
of various types of therapy exist (6).

Mortality rates of 40 to 81% have been reported (4). With
increased awareness of this rare but fatal complication and
with early recognition by CT, treatment can be instituted
immediately, which we hope will improve the outlook.

Received for publication, June 21, 1982: accepted, August 22, 1982.

Reprint requests: Dr. S. J. Peerless, Professor & Chairman, Division
of Neurosurgery. University Hospital, Post Office Box 5339, Terminal
“A”. London, Ontario N6A SAS, Canada.

REFERENCES

|. Bagley C: Traumatic longitudinal sinus lesions: Report of two

cases. Surg Gynecol Obstet 58:498-502, 1934.

Barnes BD, Winestock DP: Dynamic radionuclide scanning in the

diagnosis of thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus. Neurology

(Minneap) 27:656-661, 1977.

3. Barnett HJM, Hyland HH: Non-infective intracranial venous
thrombosis. Brain 76:36-49, 1953.

4. Buonanno FS, Moody DM, Ball MR, Laster DW: Computed
cranial tomographic findings in cerebral sinovenous occlusion. J
Comput Assist Tomogr 2:281-290, 1978.

5. Carrie AW, Jaffé FA: Thrombosis of superior sagittal sinus caused
by trauma without penetrating injury. J Neurosurg 11:173-182,
1954.

6. Gettelfinger DM, Kokmen E: Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis.
Arch Neurol 34:2-6, 1977.

Nu

TRAUMATIC SAGITTAL SINUS THROMBOSIS 97

7. Holmes G, Sargent P: Injuries of the superior longitudinal sinus.
Br Med J 2:493-498, 1915.

8. Martin JP: Signs of obstruction of the superior longitudinal sinus
following closed head injuries. Br Med J 2:467-470, 1955,

9. Rao KCVG, Knipp HC, Wagner EJ: Computed tomographic

findings in cerebral sinus and venous thrombosis. Neuroradiology

21:391-398, Aug 198].

Towbin A: The syndrome of latent cerebral venous thrombosis: Its

frequency and relation to age and congestive heart failure. Stroke

4:419-430, 1973.

10.

COMMENT

Drs. Stringer and Peerless have documented a vignette of a
woman with proven superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in the
posterior one-third of the sinus with a favorable outcome. This
is another example of the practical application of CT scanning
in the assessment of vascular disease, as it calls our attention to
the triangle sign of the superior sagittal sinus on selected cuts
of the enhanced scan. As the authors imply, routine CT scans
will identify this sign in the posterior sagittal sinus, but coronal
would be necessary for a more anteriorly situated lesion.
In spite of this sign, the diagnosis of this and other vascular
diseases can only be definitely confirmed by vascular contrast
studies (angiography, sinography. or digital venous angiogra-
phy).

The authors judiciously and cautiously managed their pa-
tient with conservative measures, which were fortunately suc-
cessful, implying a greater than normal collateral venous drain-
age in this patient. A late vascular study to document whether
the superior sagittal sinus has recanalized would be of academic
interest.

Christopher Shields, M.D.
Louisville, Kentucky