[Thrombosis of the cerebral veins. X-ray computed tomography and MRI imaging. 11 cases].

11 cases of cerebral venous thrombosis in adults are reported. Main clinical signs are: intracranial hypertension (headache, nausea, papilledema in 7 cases, loss of consciousness in 6 cases, neurological deficit in 6 cases, seizure in 4 cases. 1 patient is dead, who did not receive heparin treatment. Delay before diagnosis is between 2 and 20 days, and is shortened when arteriography or MRI are available and prescribed. At least one (or several) CT examination was performed in 10 patients. Direct signs of thrombosis are uneasily detected without contrast injection, seen here in 4 cases. Empty delta sign is observed in 7 patients, lately in 4 cases, and once only afterwards. Cerebral infarction is visualized in 7 cases over 10. Its features frequently seem evocative for cerebral venous thrombosis: triangularin 4 cases or nodular shape in 3 cases with hemorragic infarct in 7 cases, with bilateral topography in 6 cases, in frontal or central areas in 7 cases. 6 patients had a MRI examination. All cerebral infarctions appeared haemorragical, even at early stages. During subacute period, venous thrombosis is constantly and easily detected by the mean of methemoglobin high signal intensity on T1 weighted images. The prediagnosis delay is short, without necessity of arteriography. MRI should take the place of CT and arteriography in investigation of a clinically suspected cerebral venous thrombosis.