Diffusion-weighted MRI suggests the coexistence of cytotoxic and vasogenicoedema in a case of deep cerebral venous thrombosis

We report a 20-year-old woman who suffered headaches before presenting with a state of fluctuating vigilance. MRI showed diffuse high signal in the ba sal ganglia bilaterally on diffusion- and T2-weighted images, which had are as of both low and high apparent diffusion coefficient, presumed to corresp ond to cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema. MR venography showed no flow in the deep cerebral veins or straight sinus. Heparin was given, with clinical rec overy. On follow-up MRI, the appearances became normal.