BACKGROUND: Extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) include thromboembolic events that can present as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare complication of IBD that can be associated with high morbidity and mortality. This report is of a case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis presenting in a young man during a relapse of ulcerative colitis (UC).

CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old man presented with seizures and focal neurological deficit during a relapse of chronic UC. He was found to have left cerebral venous sinus thrombosis complicated by left frontotemporal infarction that was treated with anticoagulation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Thromboembolic events are well documented extra-intestinal manifestation of IBD. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a rare but serious complication that can be fatal. The correct diagnosis and timely management require a high degree of suspicion in patients with IBD who present with a new-onset headache, focal neurological symptoms, seizure, or altered mental status.

Keywords: Cerebral Veins, Colitis, Ulcerative, Venous Thrombosis, cerebral infarction, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Frontal Lobe, Headache, Magnetic Resonance Angiography, Parietal Lobe, Recurrence, Seizures, Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial