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

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.