Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Following Second Transsphenoidal Surgery: Report of a Rare Complication and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND: Cushing disease, induced by a pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting adenoma, is associated with high risk of stroke. At present, transsphenoidal surgery remains the first line of therapy. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon form of stroke with variable presentations. There are no previous reports of its occurrence in patients with Cushing disease following transsphenoidal surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a patient with Cushing disease who sustained CVST several days after a second transsphenoidal surgery. With adequate care and treatment, along with timely diagnosis, the patient made a near-complete recovery with only minor sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the poor outcome of untreated CVST, symptoms such as severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage after transsphenoidal surgery could be of valuable assistance in early diagnosis, allowing immediate medical intervention with consequent improved prognosis.