Recently, Hung Vuong General Hospital admitted and treated a 39-year-old woman who was hospitalized with headaches, speech difficulties, and seizures.

According to reports, about five days before admission, the patient began experiencing headaches in the forehead and both temples. At times, she felt slower than usual, with no obvious fever. She visited a district hospital, where she was prescribed medication, but her condition improved only slightly.

After five days of headache, the woman from Phu Tho suddenly collapsed, experienced seizures, and had difficulty speaking.
Doctors examined the patient after intensive treatment. (Photo: Hospital)

About one hour before admission, while hanging laundry on a hard surface, she suddenly collapsed. Her eyes were open, but she was unable to speak though still responsive when called. Her family immediately called an ambulance and rushed her to Hung Vuong General Hospital for emergency treatment.

Initial clinical and paraclinical examinations revealed that the patient had cortical vein thrombosis in both parietal regions and the anterior part of the superior sagittal sinus, leading to a right parietal cortical infarction. She was closely monitored and treated with a combination of methods to improve neurological symptoms, prevent complications, and reduce recurrence risk, while doctors continued to investigate the underlying cause.

Image of cerebral venous thrombosis from scans. (Photo: Hospital)

According to doctors at Hung Vuong General Hospital, cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is the presence of a blood clot in the dural venous sinuses, cerebral veins, or both. CVT is a rare and often under-recognized type of stroke, occurring in about 5 out of 1,000,000 people each year, accounting for 0.5–3% of all stroke cases. It is more common in younger individuals.

The most frequent symptom of cerebral venous thrombosis is persistent headache, reported in nearly 90% of cases.

Causes of cerebral venous thrombosis include:

• Temporary/Modifiable causes

  • Medications: oral contraceptives, hormone therapy, corticosteroids…

  • Pregnancy/postpartum period

  • Illnesses: respiratory infections, head and neck infections, anemia…

  • Mechanical trauma: head injury, head/neck interventions…

• Long-term causes

  • Hormone replacement therapy in transgender individuals

  • Obesity, anemia

  • Thyroid disorders, nephritis, inflammatory bowel disease

  • Autoimmune diseases, malignancies

  • Blood clotting disorders

  • Brain tumors, cerebral arteriovenous malformations…

This case serves as a warning for young people, especially those under 40, not to underestimate symptoms such as persistent headaches, sudden severe headaches, unusual sluggishness, or any neurological abnormalities. Cerebral infarction and cerebral venous thrombosis are not limited to the elderly but are increasingly affecting younger people due to factors such as stress, sedentary lifestyles, and undiagnosed underlying health conditions.