What is the most common symptom of central venous thrombosis?

The most common symptom of central venous thrombosis is a headache. This type of thrombosis often leads to increased intracranial pressure and venous congestion, which can result in persistent and worsening headaches. Patients may describe these headaches as being different from their typical headaches, often characterized as more severe or atypical in nature.

While focal neurological deficits may occur due to the effects of the thrombosis on the surrounding brain tissue, it is not as common as headache in terms of prevalence among patients. Seizures can also occur in the context of central venous thrombosis but are not the primary or most common presenting symptom. Signs of intracranial hypertension, such as symptoms related to elevated intracranial pressure, may manifest as a result of the thrombosis, but again, these symptoms typically present alongside or after headache rather than as the primary symptom.

Thus, headache stands out as the key symptom that leads clinicians to suspect central venous thrombosis in patients presenting with these concerns.