Lateral Sinus Thrombophlebitis Caused by Isolated Sphenoid Sinusitis

Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis is a very rare complication of paranasal sinusitis. This disease can result in a fatal outcome ifnot treated with proper antibiotics or surgical intervention. Recently, the authors came across a case of lateral sinus thrombophlebitisresulting from cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis complicated by isolated sphenoid sinusitis. Because of a severe andpersistent headache, the case was initially admitted and managed as though the patient was suffering from Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Hemifacial hypoesthesia, periorbital swelling and meiosis on the right side developed during tentative treatment. High resolutioncomputed tomography showed isolated sphenoid sinusitis with partial bony dehiscence on the roof of left sphenoid sinus. Magneticresonance images showed multiple thrombosis in the cavernous sinus, internal carotid artery, sigmoid sinus and lateral sinus onthe right side. Antibiotics, thrombolytics and endoscopic surgical intervention of sinusitis prevented a fatal outcome in spite ofremaining hemifacial hypoesthesia and ptosis on the right side. KCI Citation Count: 1