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Cavernous sinus thrombosis

The two cavernous sinuses are large veins lying within the skull cavity, immediately behind each eye socket (orbit) and on either side of the pituitary gland. They connect with the veins of the face and those of the brain. As well as containing blood, the cavernous sinuses also contain the nerves running forward to control the eye-moving muscles and to provide sensation to part of the face, and a large artery, the internal carotid artery.

The network of veins that runs back to join the cavernous sinuses carries blood mainly from a triangular area centred around the nose. Any infection in this area, as from a pimple or boil in the nostril or on the upper lip or nose, may cause a local tissue inflammation known as cellulitis. From this local inflammation, infection may spread backwards by way of the veins to reach, and involve, one of the cavernous sinuses. If this happens, the blood in the sinus may turn to an infected clot, with potentially very serious consequences. This is a cavernous sinus thrombosis.

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