Sinusitis-associated ischemic stroke in an adolescent patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome

Abstract

A 17-year-old boy presented with a high-grade fever. The patient had been previously diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). The patient visited a local physician and was diagnosed with sinusitis. Owing to persistent fever, the patient was referred to our hospital. At the initial presentation, his body temperature was 38.2°C, while maintaining previous living activities and neurological function. Despite changing the antibiotic to amoxicillin, the patient's fever persisted with worsened activity. At the second presentation, the patient presented with left hemiparesis. Blood examination revealed increased white blood cell count and serum C-reactive protein level. Emergency magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute cerebral infarcts in the right cerebral hemisphere, with evident stenosis in the right paraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). In addition, an abscess was found in the cerebellar hemisphere, which was punctured through the burr hole. Computed tomography performed after the completion of antibiotic therapy revealed a restored diameter of the stenotic ICA. Sinusitis can cause ischemic stroke due to compressive stenosis of the paraclinoid ICA, particularly in patients with CdLS. Sinusitis should be preferentially managed in patients with CdLS.

Keywords

• Cornelia de lange syndrome
• Sinusitis
• Ischemic stroke
• Internal carotid artery