Bilateral Papilledema and Partially Empty Sella in a Woman in Her 30s

Cerebral venous thrombosis

C. Obtain cerebral magnetic resonance venography or computed tomographic venography

Optic neuropathy of BD usually occurs with systemic flare-up and responds well to steroids.¹ This patient showed no signs of relapse of BD, and her vision continued to deteriorate despite the use of corticosteroids. Therefore, it is not proper to use immunosuppressants and corticosteroids (choices A and B) before a definite diagnosis. Although the patient lacked neurological symptoms other than visual loss, the bilateral papilledema and partially empty sella indicated intracranial hypertension, the possible causes of which include arteriovenous malformations, intracranial mass lesions, obstruction to venous drainage, decreased flow through arachnoid granulations, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.² Moreover, a negative magnetic resonance imaging result cannot fully rule out cerebral vascular abnormalities, among which cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) accounts for 9.4% of the presumed idiopathic intracranial hypertension.³ In suspected CVT, magnetic resonance venography or computed tomographic venography (choice C) is recommended when the magnetic resonance imaging result is negative.⁴ Therefore, a cerebral magnetic resonance venography of the patient was performed, showing thromboses of the superior sagittal sinus and the right transverse and sigmoid sinus (Figure 2). Draining cerebrospinal fluid is suggested when intracranial hypertension results in vision-threatening papilledema.⁵ Therefore, a lumber puncture was performed to confirm intracranial hypertension (showing opening pressure of 30.5 cm H₂O) and to remove cerebrospinal fluid. Acetazolamide was also initiated to lower the intracranial pressure. Anticoagulation therapy of heparin was started to facilitate recanalization and to prevent recurrent CVT and other venous thrombosis. Endovascular thrombolysis was performed to prevent visual loss of the left eye. The catheter cerebral angiography (choice D), which is invasive, is only considered when magnetic resonance venography or computed tomography venography results are inconclusive or an endovascular procedure is performed.⁴ Therefore, it was performed along with endovascular thrombolysis to visualize thrombosed veins.