Radiological diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis.

Radiological studies are essential to confirm the diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Over the last few years, innovations in radiological techniques have significantly improved the diagnosis and altered the management of this condition. Magnetic resonance imaging has become the imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis of suspected CVT, and noninvasive magnetic resonance and computed tomography venography have largely replaced conventional angiography for initial evaluation and follow-up. These techniques have high sensitivity for diagnosing CVT. However, they also have pitfalls that can lead to false-positive and -negative results. Conventional cerebral angiography should be reserved for doubtful cases or when endovascular intervention is advocated.