Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) as a Rare Presentation of a Brain Hydatid Cyst: A Case Report

Cystic hydatidosis is a rare zoonotic condition caused by the larva of the Echinococcus tapeworm. In this disease, brain involvement is a rare condition, accounting for about 2-3% of all cases with hydatid disease. Focal deficits, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, seizure and mental state changes are most common presentations of CNS cystic echinococcosis. We present a young woman with resistant headache and transient visual obscurations due to increased intra-cranial pressure caused by Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) arising from a Hydatid cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of hydatid cyst induced CVST.

Our case report highlights the importance of considering CVST as an unavoidable complication of brain’s space occupying lesions and especially infective ones as a differential diagnosis.