Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of the inner wall of the lateral venous sinus caused by infection from acute or chronic ear diseases. Bacteria enter the sinus and cause a thrombus formation within the sinus, obstructing drainage. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and papilledema. Diagnosis involves blood tests and imaging like CT or MRI. Treatment requires antibiotics, surgery to drain abscesses and remove clots, and sometimes anticoagulants or jugular vein ligation. Complications can include sepsis, meningitis, abscesses if not treated promptly.

1. Lateral sinus
thrombophlebitis
Presentor
Kamal Ghimire

2. Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis
Inflammation of inner wall of lateral venous
sinus (sigmoid sinus and transverse sinus)
with the formation of intrasinus thrombus

3. Etiology
Occurs as a complication of
 acute coalescent mastoiditis
masked mastoiditis or
 chronic suppuration of middle ear
and cholesteatoma
Bacteria:
In acute: hemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus or
staphylococcus
In chronic: bacillus proteus,pseudomonas
pyocyaneus,E.coli and staphylococci

4. Pathogenesis
Formation of perisinus abscess (either by bony
erosion of bony dural plate overlying sinus or by
thrombosis of emissary vein)
Endophlebitis mural thrombus formation
Occlusion of sinus lumen intrasinus abscess
Extension of infected thrombus

6. Extension of thrombus
• Proximal: confluence of sinus, superior sagittal
sinus, cavernous sinus
• Distal : mastoid emissary vein to jugular bulb
and jugular vein

7. Clinical features
• Hectic picket fence fever with rigors:
 high fever, irregular, one or more spikes per day
 Each spike is due to release of fresh septic embolus
 Fever accompained by chills and rigors
 Temperature subsides with sweating
• Headache
• Anemia and emaciation

8. Clinical features…….
• Griesinger’s sign: edema over posterior part of
mastoid due to thrombosis of mastoid
emissary vein
• Papilloedema: blurring of disc margins, retinal
hemorrhages or dilated veins in fundoscopy
• Tenderness along jugular vein

9. Some tests
 Tobey-Ayer test: compression of I.J.V.  rapid
rise of C.S.F. pressure (50 – 100 mm water 
rapid fall on release of compression. In
thrombosed side no rise.
 Crowe - Beck test: pressure on I.J.V. on
normal side  engorgement of retinal veins +
papilloedema seen in fundoscopy due to
lateral sinus thrombosis on opposite side.

11. Investigations
• Blood smear: to rule out malaria
• Blood culture
• CSF analysis: normal except for rise in pressure
• Imaging
Contrast enhanced CT scan
Contrast enhanced MRI
MR venography
• Culture and sensitivity of ear swab
Delta sign

12. Delta sign(red arrow): traingular
area with rim enhancement and
central low density area

13. Complications
• Septicemia and abscess in lung,bone,joints, or
subcutaneous tissue
• Meningitis and subdural abscess
• Cerebellar abscess
• Thrombosis of jugular bulb and jugular vein with
associated cranial nerves involvement
• Cavernous sinus thrombosis: proptosis,fixation of
eyeball, and papilloedema
• Otitic hydrocephalous

14. Treatment
• Urgent complete cortical or modified radical
mastoidectomy: Sinus wall incised. Infected
clots removed & abscess drained
• Antibiotics: broad spectrum antibiotics. Can
be changed once culture and sensitivity report
is available. Should be continued at least for a
week after operation
• Anticoagulants: in cavernous sinus thrombosis

15. 4. Internal jugular vein ligation: for embolism not
responding to antibiotics & surgery
5. Blood transfusion: for anaemia

16. Otitic hydrocephalous
Increase in CSF pressure in the presence of
acute or chronic otitis media not secondary to
brain abscess or meningitis, almost exclusively
associated with sigmoid sinus thrombosis.

17. Etiology
:1. Associated lateral sinus thrombosis 
obstruction of cerebral venous return.
2. Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis  ed
C.S.F. absorption
Both of these factors result in raised ICP

18. Clinical features
• Symptoms
1. Severe headache,nausea and vomiting
2. Diplopia involving VI cranial nerve
3. Blurring of vision
• Signs
1. Papilloedema with hemorrhages
2. Nystagmus
3. CSF pressure rises(>300 mm H2O)

19. TREATMENT
1. Treating L.S.T
2. reducing CSF pressure:
• I.V. Dexamethasone 4mg Q6H
• I.V. 20% Mannitol 0.5 gm/kg
• Repeated lumbar puncture / lumbar drain
• Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt

20. References:
• Dhingra ENT and head and neck surgery
• Ballenger’s otorhinolaryngology17 head and
neck surgery