cerebral venous thrombosis
Last reviewed 05/2021
Thrombosis may develop anywhere in the cerebral venous circulation, each site associated with particular presentations that can be distinguished clinically.
Blood passes from the cerebral capillaries into the cortical veins which drain into the venous sinuses. These are lined with endothelium and lie between the layers of the dura mater. The venous sinuses play a crucial role in CSF absorption: the key mediators of this action are the arachnoid villi which penetrate the sagittal sinus. They communicate with the meningeal veins and by emissary veins with the veins of the scalp.
Two types are commonly recognised:
- cortical vein thrombosis
- dural sinus thrombosis