Final answer:
Cortical venous thrombophlebitis in a subdural abscess can lead to symptoms such as high fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, a petechial rash, hemorrhagic stroke, sepsis, and can result in hypotension, organ failure, and shock.
Step-by-step explanation:
The manifestations of cortical venous thrombophlebitis in a subdural abscess can be severe and complex. Early symptoms often include high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting. If the infection worsens, symptoms such as a petechial rash can occur, which are tiny, red, flat hemorrhagic lesions due to blood vessel disruption and the formation of small blood clots. As the condition progresses, patients may experience potentially fatal hypotension and ischemia caused by blood coagulation, which can lead to sepsis, hemorrhagic stroke, multiple organ failure, and shock. Hemorrhagic strokes can be visualized on a CT scan as an accumulation of blood within the brain tissue, as seen in Figure 16.3(b) where such a stroke occurred within the parietal lobe. The disruption of normal cerebral venous drainage, such as the superior sagittal sinus, can also contribute to these symptoms.
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