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Tae-Beom Ahn, MD; Jae-Kyu Roh, MD, PhD

Arch Neurol. 2003;60:1314-1316.

Background  Computed tomography is performed in suspicious cases of cerebral venous thrombosis. Although an empty delta sign is not uncommonly reported, a cord sign is rarely reported. But this is, if present, pathognomonic, especially in the case of cortical vein thrombosis.

Case Description  A young man with antithrombin III deficiency sought emergency treatment for headache and seizure. Noncontrast computed tomography showed a typical cord sign in multiple sections. It seemed to be independent from the adjacent pathologic findings in most sections. Brain magnetic resonance imaging verified it as a thrombosed vein in conjunction with acute venous infarction.

Conclusion  The cord sign should be considered for early and accurate diagnosis of cortical vein thrombosis.

From the Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.

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