Venous spot sign: Indicator of rapid hematoma expansion in venous thrombosis type of submission: Case reports

Background: The term "spot sign" was coined by Wada et al in 2007 and thought to be due to ongoing arterial bleeding in primary intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH).¹ Spot sign has also been described in the context of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH).² Over the years arterial spot signs have been found to correlate with intraparenchymal hematoma expansion, worse clinical outcomes and increased risk of surgical intervention.³ We are describing a unique instance of a spot sign in venous sinus thrombosis that initially misled the clinical diagnosis.

Case presentation: An 83-year-old woman on dual antiplatelet therapy, with a history of minor stroke, presented with sudden right-sided weakness and dysarthria. Serial CT brain imaging revealed rapidly enlarging intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH). Contrast enhanced CT displayed multiple spot signs typically associated with arterial bleeding pattern. Initially possibility of antithrombotic related IPH was kept, however venogram confirmed venous pathology with focal superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSS). Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated and eventually succumbed to the illness before the diagnosis could be made.

Conclusion: The case exemplifies the potential of venous sinus thrombosis to manifest as a spot sign, thereby emphasizing the need for a broader differential diagnosis. The rarity of venous spot signs may be attributed to patient-specific venous anatomy and poor collateralization in the occluded sinus territory.