Combined risk factors contributing to cerebral venous thrombosis in a young woman

Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare condition affecting predominantly adol escents or young adults. The presentation is often non-specific, and delay in diagnosis is common. The otolaryngologist may be consulted about the rad iological findings of lateral sinus thrombosis and mastoid changes. The ass ociation of congenital thrombophilia with unusual presentations of venous t hrombosis, especially in young individuals is now well documented. We present a case of lateral and sagittal sinus thrombosis complicated by c erebral venous infarction in a girl with protein C deficiency and masked ma stoiditis. Unusual forms of venous thrombosis, including cerebral venous th rombosis may develop in association with a single risk factor for thrombosi s, but additional risk factors should be sought especially when thrombosis presents in very young individuals. This case draws attention to the multi-causal nature of cerebral venous thr ombosis in young adults, and highlights the issue of masked mastoiditis. A coordinated approach by otolaryngological and haematological teams is recom mended in such cases.