Endovascular Management of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae

Indications and procedural techniques for successful transvenous embolization of cerebral dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are reviewed. A brief historic context for transvenous embolization is presented. We discuss important anatomical considerations and present illustrative cases for ideal scenarios and more challenging transvenous approaches.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is always confused with dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) in clinical practice; however, both of them are very rare cerebral vascular diseases. In this report, we provide one case of DAVF combined with CVST.

A 75-year-old woman complained of headache with nausea and vomiting for 4 days. Magnetic resonance venography revealed filling defect in the torcular, left transverse, and sigmoid sinus, which strongly suggested sinus thrombosis. The patient underwent anticoagulation treatment for 9 days. However, the manifestation was not alleviated, magnetic resonance imaging detected the lesion was enlarged, and the midline shifted to the left. Digital subtraction angiography examination detected that one fistula classified as Borden type IA was fed by the left superficial temporal artery and drained into the left transverse and sigmoid sinus. Endovascular embolization with ethylene vinyl alcohol was conducted.

Follow-up at 6 months indicated that the patient recovered without any sequelae.

Known facts are that a long period of central catheterization or hemodialysis causes central venous occlusion or stenosis and its further development brings about superior vena cava syndrome. Major symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome include venous congestion caused by the occlusion or stenosis of the central vein in the sites of the head, face, neck, and upper extremity. Clinical manifestations of superior vena cava syndrome are less likely to cause intracranial hypertension, and intracranial venous hypertension does not appear to be a clinical symptom of cavernous sinus-dural arteriovenous fistula.

A 35-year-old female patient visited our hospital with chief complaints of a 2-week-old headache, chemosis, pulsatile and exophthalmos and the deteriorating ptosis in the right eye. The patient has been on continuous hemodialysis since diagnosis of renal failure due to diabetes for 20 years. Magnetic resonance images led us to a strong suspicion of cavernous sinus-dural arteriovenous fistula. However, an additionally performed digital subtraction angiogram led us to the diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome of severe stenosis in both brachiocephalic veins. Balloon angioplasty was performed to the narrowed right-side brachiocephalic vein. No more intracranial venous reflux was to be seen in the postballoon angiogram.

In our case, the clinical manifestations of superior vena cava syndrome seemed to be cavernous sinus-dural arteriovenous fistula and symptoms disappeared when resolving central vein stenosis. We report a case of superior vena cava syndrome with atypical clinical features.

Formation of a dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) between the inferolateral trunk (ILT) and cavernous sinus (CS) is rare.

This study presents a case of ILT-CS DAVF. A 64-year-old male patient had exophthalmos of the left eye with redness and swelling. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a connection between the ILT and the CS that formed a high-flow DAVF, which was drained only to the ophthalmic vein and no other parts of the CS. The ILT was chosen as the transarterial path for treatment because it was enlarged. The microcatheter was navigated into the ILT, and 2 coils were then used to occlude the ILT. After occlusion of the ILT, no image of the DAVF indicated that the ILT-CS DAVF was completely cured. The patient’s symptoms improved gradually after surgery. At the 6-month follow-up visit, digital subtraction angiography showed no sign of ILT-CS DAVF and the patient’s eye symptoms had disappeared.

Although ILT-CS DAVF is rare, it can still be seen in clinical practice. Coiling the ILT via a transarterial approach is a good option for treatment.

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) are complex vascular malformations consisting of a pathological shunt located between meningeal arteries and drainage to dural venous sinuses and/or cerebral veins. We report an unusual anatomical variation, resulting in a DAVF forming between the superior sagittal sinus and an anomalous origin of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) arising from the left ophthalmic artery. We present an atypical case requiring mini-craniotomy for catheter access, as well as cannulation of extracranial arterial supply prior to embolization of a Cognard type IIa+b fistula. Due to structural variation, transarterial endovascular embolization was deemed too high risk owing to risk of permanent blindness. We present a technical note and literature review on the first documented case of combined endovascular and surgical intervention as first line treatment for embolization of an anomalous middle meningeal artery related fistula. Our approach provided adequate obliteration of the DAVF and may be an alternative way to treat DAVF, when traditional transarterial or transvenous approaches are deemed high risk for neurological deficit.