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Clinical Correspondence
Cerebral Sinus Venous Thrombosis Mimicking Probable
Paroxysmal Hemicrania: A Case Report
Dev G. Mehta, DO; Jerry W. Swanson, MD, MHPE
Key words: cerebral sinus venous thrombosis, paroxysmal hemicrania, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia
Abbreviation: PH paroxysmal hemicrania
(Headache 2020;0:1-2)
Cerebral sinus venous thromboses have been im-
plicated in mimicking many of the primary headache
disorders. We present the first case report of a cerebral
sinus venous thrombosis presenting with symptoms
suggestive of probable paroxysmal hemicrania (PH).
A 77-year-old man with a past medical history of
glaucoma and mixed, bilateral, conductive and senso-
rineural hearing loss developed right-sided headaches.
Four months prior to his consultation, the patient
developed a constant, low grade holocranial head-
ache. Over the next few days, the headache localized
to the right side. The patient described the pain as
constant with pressure with severe, superimposed
stabbing. The ictal stabbing pain occurred in the ret-
ro-orbital region. It was a constant stabbing sensation
and occurred 5-6 times per day. Each episode lasted
about 10-15 minutes. Interictally, he complained of a
low-moderate grade right sided headache. Ipsilateral
conjunctival injection, lacrimation, and aural fullness
accompanied each episode of stabbing pain. The stab-
bing pain was associated with restlessness and agita-
tion. After development of the headache syndrome,
alcohol ingestion would trigger an acute attack. This
pattern continued for 2.5 months until it stopped. A
month and a half later, the patient presented to our
clinic for a consultation. At that time, he was com-
pletely headache free and was able to drink alcohol
without provoking severe, right-sided, and stabbing
pain. His neurological exam was normal. Specifically,
there was no papilledema or focal neurologic find-
ings. Serologic work up including CBC, CMP, ESR,
and thrombophilia labs were unremarkable. CT of the
chest, abdomen, and pelvis were negative for malig-
nancy. MRI and MR venogram of the brain revealed
a thrombosis within the right transverse sinus which
extended through the sigmoid sinus into the jugular
vein (Fig. 1). Given the resolution of his headaches, a
trial of indomethacin was not undertaken at the time.
At the most recent follow-up, the patient has not had
any recurrence of his symptoms and has been placed
on anticoagulation for the thrombosis.
Headache doi: 10.1111/head.13781
© 2020 American Headache Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN 0017-8748
Conflict of Interest: None
Funding: None
From the Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
MN, USA (D.G. Mehta and J.W. Swanson).
Address all correspondence to D.G. Mehta, Department
of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, email:
dgmehta89@gmail.com
Accepted for publication February 6, 2020.