Otogenic Lateral Sinovenous Thrombosis in Children: A Case Series from a Single Centre and Narrative Review.

Aim: We aimed to describe otogenic lateral sinovenous thrombosis (OLST), a rare, potentially life-threatening complication of otomastoiditis.
Methods: Children diagnosed with OLST in a tertiary-care Hospital from 2014 to 2019 was retrospectively selected. Clinical and radiological features, timing of diagnosis, treatment and outcome are reported.
Results: Seven children (5 males) were studied. Fever and neurological symptoms (headache, lethargy, diplopia, dizziness and papilledema) were always present. Otalgia and/or otorrhea were found in 6 children; none had signs of mastoiditis. Diagnosis was reached after 7 days (median) from clinical onset. Brain CT-scan was performed in 5 children being diagnostic for 3. Venography-MRI detected OLST and mastoiditis in all cases without parenchymal lesions. Treatment was based on intravenous rehydration, antibiotic and low-molecular weight heparin; acetazolamide was added in 3 children. Mastoidectomy and ventriculoperitoneal-shunting were selectively performed. Patients were discharged after 26 days (median). Follow-up neuroimaging showed sinus recanalization after a median time of 6 months.
Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach is needed to optimize diagnostic-therapeutic protocols of pediatric OLST.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
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