Thrombosis of the Internal Cerebral Vein Associated with Transient Unilateral Thalamic Edema: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Karin A. Herrmann; Bernd Sporer; Tarek A. Yousry

Abstract

Summary: Thrombosis of the deep venous system presenting with bilateral thalamic infarction or edema is a common finding, but unilateral venous thrombosis presenting with unilateral thalamic edema is extremely rare. We report a case of a patient with this unusual condition presenting with nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms. CT and MR imaging revealed a unilateral thalamostriate lesion. The imaging sign that was most helpful in establishing the diagnosis, however, was the MR finding of a thrombus in a single internal cerebral vein.

Deep venous infarction is a well-recognized entity that has been well described in the literature. Deep venous infarction is usually symmetrical, affecting the thalamus bilaterally, and possibly extending into the basal ganglia and the adjacent white matter bilaterally (1–4). By contrast, to the best of our knowledge, deep venous thrombosis that affects only a single thalamus is a rare entity that has been described only twice before in the literature (5, 6).

We report the clinical and imaging findings of a patient with unilateral deep internal cerebral vein thrombosis (DICVT) leading to a completely reversible unilateral thalamic edema and review the literature on this rare entity.

Case Report

Two weeks before admission, an otherwise healthy 47-year-old woman developed an acute headache, hemihypesthesia and hemiparesis of the right arm, and an episode of retrograde amnesia for this event and the 24 hours preceding it. Over several days the headache resolved, right-arm symptoms regressed but did not resolve, and the patient was admitted to our hospital.

On admission, the only focal neurologic or neuropsychological sign was slight reduction in right arm strength. Initial CT showed a circumscribed hypoattenuated area in the left thalamus (Fig 1A). MR imaging (axial and coronal T2-weighted spin-echo sequences and T1-weighted spin-echo sequences before and after administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine [Gd-DTPA]) and 2D time-of-flight MR angiography revealed a circumscribed hyperintense lesion (T2-weighted image; Fig 1B) in the mediodorsal portion of the left thalamus. A lack of flow void within the left internal cerebral vein (ICV) was observed (MR angiography), and the left ICV was slightly hyperintense on the T1-weighted image (Fig 1C). After administration of Gd-DTPA, the left ICV was heterogeneous as compared with the right ICV, a finding pathognomonic of the presence of a thrombus with associated edema (Fig 1E).

Fig 1.

CT and MR images obtained in a 47-year-old woman with unilateral thrombosis of the left ICV.

A, Nonenhanced cerebral CT scan shows a circumscribed hypoattenuation in the left thalamus and adjacent internal capsule (white arrowheads).

B, Hyperintense area of edema on T2-weighted MR image corresponds to hypoattenuation in A.

C, T1-weighted MR image shows high signal intensity in the left ICV (small white arrowheads) that is strongly indicative of an intraluminal clot.

D, After contrast material administration, the left ICV is unidentifiable in its entire length (large white arrowhead).

E, Intraluminal irregularities and filling defects in the dorsal portion of the ICV (large white arrowhead), together with findings in D, confirm the diagnosis of unilateral ICV thrombosis.

F and G, MR images obtained 2 years after unilateral ICV thrombosis show complete recanalization of the left ICV and no residual parenchymal defects (T2-weighted and T1-weighted).

The results of lumbar puncture, extracranial and transcranial Doppler sonography, acoustically evoked potential monitoring, visually evoked potential monitoring, somatosensory evoked potential monitoring, electroencephalography, electrocardiography, and laboratory analyses of serum and CSF samples were all within normal ranges. Isolated ICV thrombosis was diagnosed, and the patient was treated for 2 weeks with heparin therapy to maintain the activated partial thromboplastin time between 2 and 3 times baseline (international normalized ratio).

Within 3 weeks after admission, the patient’s right arm symptoms had resolved completely, and MR imaging showed marked regression of the thrombus and the edema and partial restitution of the flow void within the left ICV. The patient continued anticoagulant therapy with warfarin for 2 years. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic, and MR imaging of the left thalamus showed no substantial defects (Fig 1F and G).

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, no one has previously reported on the CT and MR appearance of unilateral thrombosis of a single ICV leading to a reversible edema of the thalamus.

Clinical Course

In contrast to dural sinus thrombosis, DICVT more often leads to death or major long-term sequelae (2). Patients with DICVT tend to present with a short history of rapidly declining consciousness (2). The prognosis of this entity, however, is not necessarily poor (7).

Clinical manifestation of DICVT can be both complex and nonspecific. They can cover a wide range of symptoms from headache, nausea, and vomiting to focal neurologic deficits, hemiparesis, aphasia, seizures, coma, and death. Of the 24 patients reported in the literature (Table), 13 presented with mild symptoms, five with neurologic deficits or seizures, and five with decline of consciousness or coma. In one patient, clinical symptoms were not communicated (8). Of the 13 patients with mild symptoms, four recovered completely, six had persistent deficits, and three died. In the five patients with focal neurologic symptoms, three recovered almost completely, and one died. One patient was unreported (9). Finally, of the five patients with impairment of consciousness or coma, three died and one had persistent deficits. In the case of one patient, there is no information of clinical outcome.

View this table:

Review of the literature: presentation, diagnostic imaging, and outcome of internal cerebral venous thrombosis

In contrast, the outcome seems to be much more favorable in unilateral DICVT. In the two cases reported in the literature, both patients had neuropsychological deficits, and one of them presented with hemiparesis. At follow-up, one patient recovered completely (6), and the second patient had a mild persistent deficit (5). Our patient with unilateral ICV thrombosis also presented with mild clinical symptoms (headache, short-term amnesia, and discrete hemiparesis) and recovered completely in 3 weeks.

Radiologic Findings

In most cases of DICVT, the thalamus is affected bilaterally (Table). Additional cerebral structures adjacent to the thalami such as the basal ganglia and the mesencephalon are affected in one-third of patients.

CT findings in deep venous thrombosis are bilateral hypoattenuation of the thalami (and, in some cases, the basal ganglia and adjacent white matter), whereas the venous structures, such as the thalamostriate vein, ICV, vein of Rosenthal, vein of Galen, straight sinus, and confluens sinuum are hyperattenuated (8, 10, 11). Hydrocephalus may occur as a consequence of edema and swelling of both thalami (2, 12). In cases of hemorrhagic transformation, scattered areas of hyperattenuation (usually unilateral) may be seen.

Ischemia and vasogenic edema due to thrombosis of the deep veins appear hyperintense on T2-weighted images and hypointense on T1-weighted images, although if hemorrhage has occurred, these areas appear hyperintense on T1-weighted images. The actual thrombus in a deep vein appears as an area of hyperintensity on T1-weighted images, and the area fails to enhance after administration of Gd-DTPA.

Phase-contrast MR angiography shows deep venous thrombosis as absent flow signal intensity in the deep venous system (1, 2, 6, 13). Time-of-flight MR angiography may be more difficult to interpret, because the high signal intensity of the thrombus can be mistaken as flow, although there is usually a difference in the degree of hyperintensity between flow signal intensity and thrombus.

The differential diagnoses of unilateral thalamic lesions include vascular lesions, mainly arterial thalamic infarctions (3), and tumors such as germinomas (14–17), gliomas (18), neurocytomas (19), and cavernous hemangiomas (20, 21). Particular imaging techniques and attention to specific features may be helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis. Arterial infarction can present with hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and hypointensity on T1-weighted images, similar to venous edema or venous infarction. Both entities can be differentiated by using diffusion-weighted imaging. Whereas arterial infarction with cytotoxic edema is characterized by restricted diffusion (22), venous edema with its vasogenic edema is characterized by increased diffusion (22). In venous infarction, cytotoxic edema adds to the existing vasogenic edema leading to patchy areas of restricted and increased diffusion (22). Cavernomas are usually easily identified by a typical hypointense ring on T2- and T2*-weighted images (21). Tumors such as gliomas, neurocytomas, and germinomas have all been reported to occur in the thalamus (16, 17, 19, 23). These lesions can present as masses with compression of adjacent structures. Imaging changes found on MR and CT images, however, are not specific. Neurocytomas may contain areas of calcifications (19). Germinomas usually enhance (15) and can be characterized by elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in serum and CSF (14, 15). Spectroscopy shows an increase in the choline peak in gliomas (24, 25). Perfusion imaging does not reveal significant changes in regional cerebral blood volume and mean transit time in low-grade gliomas but these decrease in the presence of high-grade gliomas (25, 26).

Arriving at the diagnosis of unilateral ICV thrombosis in our patient was not straightforward. The gradual onset of signs and symptoms in our patient made an infarction of arterial origin unlikely. A neoplastic lesion was therefore suspected at first; however, the finding on MR images and particularly the delineation of a thrombus in the ICV suggested the diagnosis of unilateral venous hypertension leading to a vasogenic edema, which could not be differentiated from an infarction. The entire resolution of all pathologic changes and the absence of subsequent defects on follow-up examinations suggest that the signal intensity changes represent pure vasogenic edema rather than definite infarction.

In contrast to this excellent outcome, patients with more extensive involvement of deep cerebral structures typically present with more severe clinical symptoms, especially when bilateral thalamic swelling induces occlusion of the third ventricle and internal hydrocephalus (27). In 12 of the 24 patients reported with DICVT (Table), signal intensity changes were limited to one thalamus (n=2) or to both thalami (n=10). Of those 12 patients, five recovered from all symptoms, and seven had residual neurologic deficits. When the changes extended beyond the thalami and included the basal ganglia (n=6), only one patient recovered completely and two patients died. A further extension beyond these structures into the mesencephalon or pons was fatal (n=2) (Table). In four patients, the clinical outcome and the location of the lesion were not specified. All patients with fatal outcome presented with either severe initial clinical symptoms or pathologic imaging findings extending beyond both thalami to adjacent structures.

The difficulty in diagnosing unilateral thrombosis of a deep cerebral vein is that bilateral deep vein thrombosis is so common and unilateral thrombosis is so rare. Remaining alert to the possibility of unilateral ICV thrombosis combined with visualization of a thrombus in the ICV on CT or MR images should establish the correct diagnosis.

Conclusion

Thrombosis of a deep cerebral vein can, very rarely, present unilaterally. In the three cases reported to date (including the one reported here), symptoms include mild neuropsychological deficits that resolve or greatly improve over time. The diagnosis rests on visualization of a unilateral thrombus in a cerebral vein on CT, MR, and MR angiography images.

References

↵
Bell DA, Wayne LD, Osborn AG, Harnsberger HR. Bithalamic hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR: vascular causes and evaluation with MR angiography. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1994;15:893–899
Abstract/FREE Full Text
↵
Crawford SC, Digre KB, Palmer CA, et al. Thrombosis of the deep venous drainage of the brain in adults. Arch Neurol 1995;52:1101–1108
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Castaigne P, Lhermitte F, Buge A, et al. Para-median thalamic and midbrain infarcts: clinical and neuro-pathological study. Ann Neurol 1981;10:127–148
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Guberman A, Stuss D. The syndrome of bilateral para-median thalamic infarction. Neurology 1983;33:540–546
Abstract/FREE Full Text
↵
Rousseaux M, Cabaret M, Bernati T, et al. Residual deficit of verbal recall after a left internal cerebral vein infarct. Rev Neurol 1998;154:401–407
PubMed
↵
Forsting M, Krieger D, Seier U, Hacke W. Reversible bilateral thalamic lesions caused by primary internal cerebral vein thrombosis: a case report. J Neurol 1989;236:484–486
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Förderreuther S, Straube A, Yousry TA. Amnestic episode caused by thrombosis of internal cerebral veins. Eur J Neurol 1997;4:512–514
↵
Erbguth F, Brenner P, Schuierer G, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of deep cerebral vein thrombosis. Neurosurg Rev 1991;14:145–148
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Yoshii N, Seiki Y, Samejima H, et al. Occlusion of deep cerebral veins. Neuroradiology 1978;16:287–288
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Haley EC, Brashear HR, Barth JT, et al. Deep cerebral vein thrombosis. Arch Neurol 1989;46:337–340
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Eick JJ, Miller KD, Bell KA, Tutton RH. Computed tomography of deep cerebral venous thrombosis in children. Radiology 1981;140:399–402
PubMed
↵
Gerszten PC, Welch WC, Spearman MP, et al. Isolated deep cerebral venous thrombosis treated by direct endo-vascular thrombolysis. Surg Neurol 1997;48:261–266
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Magni C, Mocaer J, Yapo P, et al. Les thrombosis veineuses cérébrales profondes. J Neuroradiol 1998;25:116–122
PubMed
↵
Kobayashi T, Kageyama N, Kida Y, et al. Unilateral germinoma involving the basal ganglia and thalamus. J Neurosurg 1981;55:56–62
↵
Wong GJ, Hung KL, Huang JS, Chen TY. Unilateral thalamic tumor with atrophy of ipsilateral cortical cortex: report of a case. J Formos Med Assoc 1991;90:609–611, 587
PubMed
↵
Kim DI, Yoon PH, Ryu YH, et al. MRI of germinomas arising from the basal ganglia and thalamus. Neuroradiology 1998;40:507–511
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Moon WK, Chang KH, Kim IO, et al. Germinomas of the basal ganglia and thalamus: MR findings and a comparison between MR and CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1994;162:1413–1417
PubMed
↵
Nishio S, Morioka T, Suzuki S, et al. Thalamic gliomas: a clinico-pathologic analysis of 20 cases with reference to patient age. Acta Neurochir 1997;139:336–342
CrossRef
↵
Cheung YK. Central neurocytoma occurring in the thalamus: CT and MRI findings. Australas Radiol 1996;40:182–184
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Lazzarino LG, Nicolai A, Toppani D. Unilateral cavernous angioma of the thalamus disclosed by transitional disorders in the upward gaze. Minerva Med 1990;81:731–733
PubMed
↵
Rapacki TF, Brantley MJ, Furlow TW Jr, et al. Heterogeneity of cerebral cavernous hemangiomas diagnosed by MR imaging. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1990;14:18–25
PubMed
↵
Loevblad KO, Bassetti C, Ozdoba C, et al. Diffusion-weighted MRI suggests the coexistence of cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema in a case of deep cerebral venous thrombosis. Neuroradiology 2000;42:728–731
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Uchino M, Kitajima S, Miyazaki C, et al. Bilateral thalamic glioma: case report. Neurol Med Chir 2002;42:443–446
CrossRef
↵
Fulham MJ, Bizzi A, Dietz MJ, et al. Mapping of brain tumor metabolites with proton MR spectroscopic imaging: clinical relevance. Radiology 1992;185:675–686
PubMed
↵
Yang D, Korogi Y, Sugahara T, et al. Cerebral gliomas: prospective comparison of multivoxel 2D chemical-shift imaging proton MR spectroscopy, echoplanar perfusion and diffusion-weighted MRI. Neuroradiology 2002;44:656–666
CrossRef PubMed
↵
Law M, Cha S, Knopp EA, et al. High-grade gliomas and solitary metastases: differentiation by using perfusion and proton spectroscopic MR imaging. Radiology 2002;222:715–721
PubMed
↵
Johnsen S, Greenwood R, Fishman MA. Internal cerebral vein thrombosis. Arch Neurol 1973;28:205–207
CrossRef PubMed
Goldenberg G, Wimmer A, Maly J. Amnestic syndrome with a unilateral thalamic lesion: a case report. J Neurol 1983;229:79–86
CrossRef PubMed
Wang PY, Shen WC. MRI in internal cerebral vein thrombosis: case note. Neuroradiology 1995;37:447–448
PubMed

Received April 11, 2002.
Accepted after revision January 13, 2004.

View Abstract

In this issue

Download PDF

Email Article

Citation Tools

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

Show more BRAIN

[1] ↵
Bell DA, Wayne LD, Osborn AG, Harnsberger HR. Bithalamic hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR: vascular causes and evaluation with MR angiography. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1994;15:893–899
Abstract/FREE Full Text

[2] ↵
Crawford SC, Digre KB, Palmer CA, et al. Thrombosis of the deep venous drainage of the brain in adults. Arch Neurol 1995;52:1101–1108
CrossRef PubMed

[3] ↵
Castaigne P, Lhermitte F, Buge A, et al. Para-median thalamic and midbrain infarcts: clinical and neuro-pathological study. Ann Neurol 1981;10:127–148
CrossRef PubMed

[4] ↵
Guberman A, Stuss D. The syndrome of bilateral para-median thalamic infarction. Neurology 1983;33:540–546
Abstract/FREE Full Text

[5] ↵
Rousseaux M, Cabaret M, Bernati T, et al. Residual deficit of verbal recall after a left internal cerebral vein infarct. Rev Neurol 1998;154:401–407
PubMed

[6] ↵
Forsting M, Krieger D, Seier U, Hacke W. Reversible bilateral thalamic lesions caused by primary internal cerebral vein thrombosis: a case report. J Neurol 1989;236:484–486
CrossRef PubMed

[7] ↵
Förderreuther S, Straube A, Yousry TA. Amnestic episode caused by thrombosis of internal cerebral veins. Eur J Neurol 1997;4:512–514

[8] ↵
Erbguth F, Brenner P, Schuierer G, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of deep cerebral vein thrombosis. Neurosurg Rev 1991;14:145–148
CrossRef PubMed

[9] ↵
Yoshii N, Seiki Y, Samejima H, et al. Occlusion of deep cerebral veins. Neuroradiology 1978;16:287–288
CrossRef PubMed

[10] ↵
Haley EC, Brashear HR, Barth JT, et al. Deep cerebral vein thrombosis. Arch Neurol 1989;46:337–340
CrossRef PubMed

[11] ↵
Eick JJ, Miller KD, Bell KA, Tutton RH. Computed tomography of deep cerebral venous thrombosis in children. Radiology 1981;140:399–402
PubMed

[12] ↵
Gerszten PC, Welch WC, Spearman MP, et al. Isolated deep cerebral venous thrombosis treated by direct endo-vascular thrombolysis. Surg Neurol 1997;48:261–266
CrossRef PubMed

[13] ↵
Magni C, Mocaer J, Yapo P, et al. Les thrombosis veineuses cérébrales profondes. J Neuroradiol 1998;25:116–122
PubMed

[14] ↵
Kobayashi T, Kageyama N, Kida Y, et al. Unilateral germinoma involving the basal ganglia and thalamus. J Neurosurg 1981;55:56–62

[15] ↵
Wong GJ, Hung KL, Huang JS, Chen TY. Unilateral thalamic tumor with atrophy of ipsilateral cortical cortex: report of a case. J Formos Med Assoc 1991;90:609–611, 587
PubMed

[16] ↵
Kim DI, Yoon PH, Ryu YH, et al. MRI of germinomas arising from the basal ganglia and thalamus. Neuroradiology 1998;40:507–511
CrossRef PubMed

[17] ↵
Moon WK, Chang KH, Kim IO, et al. Germinomas of the basal ganglia and thalamus: MR findings and a comparison between MR and CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1994;162:1413–1417
PubMed

[18] ↵
Nishio S, Morioka T, Suzuki S, et al. Thalamic gliomas: a clinico-pathologic analysis of 20 cases with reference to patient age. Acta Neurochir 1997;139:336–342
CrossRef

[19] ↵
Cheung YK. Central neurocytoma occurring in the thalamus: CT and MRI findings. Australas Radiol 1996;40:182–184
CrossRef PubMed

[20] ↵
Lazzarino LG, Nicolai A, Toppani D. Unilateral cavernous angioma of the thalamus disclosed by transitional disorders in the upward gaze. Minerva Med 1990;81:731–733
PubMed

[21] ↵
Rapacki TF, Brantley MJ, Furlow TW Jr, et al. Heterogeneity of cerebral cavernous hemangiomas diagnosed by MR imaging. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1990;14:18–25
PubMed

[22] ↵
Loevblad KO, Bassetti C, Ozdoba C, et al. Diffusion-weighted MRI suggests the coexistence of cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema in a case of deep cerebral venous thrombosis. Neuroradiology 2000;42:728–731
CrossRef PubMed

[23] ↵
Uchino M, Kitajima S, Miyazaki C, et al. Bilateral thalamic glioma: case report. Neurol Med Chir 2002;42:443–446
CrossRef

[24] ↵
Fulham MJ, Bizzi A, Dietz MJ, et al. Mapping of brain tumor metabolites with proton MR spectroscopic imaging: clinical relevance. Radiology 1992;185:675–686
PubMed

[25] ↵
Yang D, Korogi Y, Sugahara T, et al. Cerebral gliomas: prospective comparison of multivoxel 2D chemical-shift imaging proton MR spectroscopy, echoplanar perfusion and diffusion-weighted MRI. Neuroradiology 2002;44:656–666
CrossRef PubMed

[26] ↵
Law M, Cha S, Knopp EA, et al. High-grade gliomas and solitary metastases: differentiation by using perfusion and proton spectroscopic MR imaging. Radiology 2002;222:715–721
PubMed

[27] ↵
Johnsen S, Greenwood R, Fishman MA. Internal cerebral vein thrombosis. Arch Neurol 1973;28:205–207
CrossRef PubMed

[28] Goldenberg G, Wimmer A, Maly J. Amnestic syndrome with a unilateral thalamic lesion: a case report. J Neurol 1983;229:79–86
CrossRef PubMed

[29] Wang PY, Shen WC. MRI in internal cerebral vein thrombosis: case note. Neuroradiology 1995;37:447–448
PubMed

Main menu

User menu

Search

American Journal of Neuroradiology

Thrombosis of the Internal Cerebral Vein Associated with Transient Unilateral Thalamic Edema: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Case Report