Atypical dural arteriovenous fistula associated with meningitis

A 49-year-old male presented with hemisensory disturbance and gait unsteadiness following a previous episode of meningitis. He had no contributory medical or head injury history. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed innumerable medullary vessels in the white matter of the left cerebral hemisphere, which had not been recognized in the previous imaging study. Cerebral angiography showed variant superior sagittal sinus (SSS) arteriovenous fistula (AVF) fed by the bilateral middle meningeal and superficial temporal arteries, and drained directly to the cortical veins with marked venous engorgement in the affected hemisphere. The fistulas were located on the cortical veins, apart from the SSS. Initial percutaneous transarterial embolization failed, so the AVF was completely obliterated with a combination of surgical and endovascular techniques. The symptoms ameliorated postoperatively. Meningitis may be an underlying pathology of dural AVF. Variant SSS AVF can be treated with a combination of surgical and endovascular techniques.     

Transvenous embolization for dural transverse sinus fistulas with occluded sigmoid sinus

Summary Dural transverse sinus arteriovenous fistulas with cortical venous drainage were associated with a high hemorrhagic risk. Dural transverse sinus arteriovenous dural fistulas could be treated by embolization (transarterial or transvenous), surgery or a combination of both. Transvenous packing of the diseased sinus was considered to be a less invasive and effective method of treatment. Occluded sigmoid sinus proximally, especially cases with isolated transverse sinus, could make the transvenous approach difficult. Craniotomy for sinus packing or surgical excision remained the treatment of choice when the percutaneous transvenous approach was not feasible. We reviewed the techniques of transvenous embolization described in the literature and illustrated our techniques in two consecutive cases of transvenous embolization of the dural arteriovenous fistulas through the occluded sigmoid sinus. We concluded that transvenous embolization remains a safe and feasible technique other than surgery for patients with transverse sinus dural fistula, achieving a long-term occlusion of the pathology.     

Dural arteriovenous fistula involving the superior sagittal sinus following sinus thrombosis--case report

A 57-year-old woman presented with a dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) based upon serial radiological examinations. Her chief complaints were headache and vomiting. Cerebral angiography and magnetic resonance (MR) venography revealed the sinus thrombosis involving the SSS, the bilateral transverse sinuses (TSs), and the right sigmoid sinus. Her symptoms disappeared after anticoagulant therapy. Follow-up MR venography revealed almost complete recanalization of the occluded sinuses, followed by restenosis of the SSS and the left TS and occlusion of the right TS without symptoms. She developed transient right hemiparesis 13 months after the initial onset. Cerebral angiography revealed a dural AVF involving the SSS with cortical reflux into the left frontoparietal region. The dural AVF was occluded by transarterial and transvenous embolization. Her symptom disappeared during the follow-up period.     

A variant of arteriovenous fistulas within the wall of dural sinuses. Results of combined surgical and endovascular therapy

Dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulas are thought to be acquired lesions that form in an area of thrombosis within a sinus. If the sinus remains completely thrombosed, venous drainage from these lesions occurs through cortical veins, or, if the sinus is open, venous drainage is usually into the involved sinus. Among 105 patients with dural AV fistulas evaluated over the the past 5 years, seven had a unique type of dural AV fistula in the superior sagittal, transverse, or straight sinus in which only cortical venous drainage occurred despite a patent involved sinus; the fistula was located within the wall of a patent dural sinus, but outflow was not into the involved sinus. This variant of dural AV fistulas puts the patient at serious risk for hemorrhage or neurological dysfunction caused by venous hypertension. Three patients presented with hemorrhage, one with progressive neurological dysfunction, one with seizures, and two with bruit and headaches. A combination of surgical and endovascular techniques was used to close the fistula while preserving flow through the sinus.     

Efficacy and Limitations of Transarterial Acrylic Glue Embolization for Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

The efficacy and limitations of transarterial acrylic glue embolization for the treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) were investigated. Thirty-four DAVFs treated by transarterial embolization using n-butyl cyanoacrylate were retrospectively reviewed. The locations of DAVFs were the transverse-sigmoid sinus in 11, tentorium in 10, cranial vault in 9, and superior sagittal sinus, jugular bulb, foramen magnum, and middle cranial fossa in 1 each. Borden classification was type I in 7, type II in 3, and type III in 24. Eight patients had undergone prior transvenous coil embolization. Complete obliteration rate was 56% immediately after embolization, 71% at follow-up angiography, and 85% after additional treatments (1 transvenous embolization and 4 direct surgery). Complications occurred in three patients, consisting of asymptomatic vessel perforations during cannulation in two patients and leakage of contrast medium resulting in medullary infarction in one patient. Transarterial glue embolization is highly effective for Borden type III DAVF with direct cortical venous drainage, but has limitations for Borden type I and II DAVFs in which the affected sinus is part of the normal venous circulation. Onyx is a new liquid embolic material and is becoming the treatment of choice for DAVF. The benefits of glue embolization compared to Onyx embolization are high thrombogenicity, and relatively low risks of cranial nerve palsies and of excessive migration into the draining veins of high flow fistula. Transarterial glue embolization continues to be useful for selected patients, and complete cure can be expected in most patients with fewer complications if combined with transvenous embolization or direct surgery.     

Multiple isolated sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas associated with antithrombin III deficiency--case report--

A 55-year-old man presented with a rare case of multiple isolated sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) associated with antithrombin (AT) III deficiency manifesting as sudden onset of headache and gait disturbance. Increased arterial shunting flow had caused intraventricular hemorrhage after incomplete repeated transarterial embolization procedures for dural AVFs. Multiple isolated sinus dural AVFs were located in the anterior superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and transverse sinus, which were completely embolized by direct packing of the isolated sinuses via the SSS. The development of dural AVF is complicated and associated with a number of factors, such as congenital abnormality, head trauma, craniotomy, radiation, hematological abnormality, and sinus thrombosis. Hematological abnormality is a risk factor of sinus thrombosis. In the present case, the multiple isolated sinus dural AVFs might have resulted from the aggravation of multiple dural AVFs and the coagulative tendency due to AT III deficiency. Direct sinus packing should be considered if transvenous catheterization is difficult or fails.     

A case of dural arteriovenous fistula of the inferior petrosal sinus successfully treated by transarterial and transvenous embolizations

A 69-year-old male was admitted with chemosis and exophthalmos of his right eye. Angiograms revealed a dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the right inferior petrosal sinus. The AVF was fed by the right occipital and ascending pharyngeal arteries and drained into the cavernous sinus and right superior ophthalmic vein from the right inferior petrosal sinus. He was treated by transarterial embolization with polyvinyl alcohol in order to reduce the shunt-flow through the fistula. Then he was treated by transvenous embolization with GDC coils five days after the arterial embolization. Symptoms in his right eye have completely disappeared. Transvenous embolization combined with transarterial embolization is a useful and safe approach in the management of AVF involving the inferior petrosal sinus.     

Single stage transcranial exposure of large dural venous sinuses for surgically-assisted direct transvenous embolization of high-grade dural arteriovenous fistulas: technical note

Background  

High-grade dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) with retrograde cortical leptomeningeal drainage are formidable lesions because of their risk for intracranial hemorrhage. Treatment is aimed at occluding venous outflow to achieve obliteration of the fistula. In DAVFs that involve a large dural venous sinus (transverse sigmoid sinus or superior sagittal sinus), occluding venous outflow can be accomplished endovascularly with transvenous embolization. However, in some cases of DAVFs with reflux into cortical leptomeningeal veins, there may be venous restrictive disease downstream, such as occlusive thrombosis, which can prohibit endovascular access via the transfemoral or transjugular routes. In these instances, a transcranial approach can be performed to expose the large dural venous sinus distal to the site of occlusion for direct catheterization of the venous outflow for transvenous embolization. This combined surgical and endovascular strategy provides direct access to the venous outflow and bypasses the site of thrombotic obstruction.     

Surgical treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas

BACKGROUND: When considering the treatment strategies for dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs), it is important to clarify the exact location of the fistula and venous drainage route from both DAVFs and normal brain tissue. DAVFs with leptomeningeal retrograde venous drainage carry a high risk of neurological deficits and require aggressive treatment. When AVFs involve the dural sinus, transvenous embolization via the transfemoral approach is usually the first choice of treatment. For DAVFs draining directly into the cortical veins without dural sinus involvement, transarterial embolization may be a curative treatment. However, when embolization is technically difficult or results in incomplete occlusion, surgical treatment is required. The purpose of the present study was to review our experience with surgical treatment of DAVFs. METHODS: The present series included 17 patients; 9 had DAVFs involving the dural sinus with leptomeningeal retrograde venous drainage and 8 had DAVFs draining directly into the cortical veins. For DAVFs involving the sinus, embolization of the diseased sinus by direct surgical exposure was performed in 8 patients, and surgical excision in one. For DAVFs draining directly into the cortical veins, interruption of the draining veins close to DAVFs was undertaken in 7 and surgical excision in 1. RESULTS: Complete obliteration of DAVFs was demonstrated in 16 patients. At final follow-up, 15 patients were asymptomatic and the other 2 showed clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: For DAVFs involving the dural sinus, direct operative sinus packing is indicated. For DAVFs directly draining into the cortical veins, surgical interruption of the draining veins is indicated.     

Shifting of dural arteriovenous malformation from the cavernous sinus to the sigmoid sinus to the transverse sinus after transvenous embolization. A case of left spontaneous carotid-cavernous sinus fistula.

The angiographic features of left spontaneous carotid-cavernous sinus fistula and multiple dural arteriovenous malformations that developed after transvenous embolization are described. A dural arteriovenous malformation involving the left sigmoid sinus was demonstrated, along with a marked decrease in size of the left carotid-cavernous sinus fistula and the disappearance of venous drainage from the left cavernous to the right cavernous sinus after embolization with spring coils via the left superior ophthalmic vein. The dural arteriovenous malformation of the left sigmoid sinus subsequently extended to the transverse sinus after partial embolization of the sigmoid sinus. Finally, a dural arteriovenous malformation involving the left transverse sinus developed, with the disappearance of the arteriovenous malformation affecting the sigmoid sinus and left carotid-cavernous sinus fistula following complete embolization of the sigmoid sinus via the left transverse sinus.     

A dural arteriovenous fistula of the tentorium successfully treated by intravascular embolization.

BACKGROUND: Dural arteriovenous fistulas of the tentorium are rare lesions that often present with intracranial hemorrhage. Definitive treatment is therefore necessary, but transarterial embolization has rarely been curative. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 59-year-old man presenting with sudden onset of severe headache had subarachnoid hemorrhage demonstrated by computed tomography. Left carotid angiography showed a tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula fed by a tentorial branch from the internal carotid artery and by a middle meningeal artery; the fistula drained to the marginal sinus via a dilated varicosity. Transarterial embolization successfully obliterated the fistula, and the patient was discharged with no neurologic deficit. CONCLUSION: This tentorial fistula, that showed extremely rare angiographic features, particularly venous drainage, was embolized successfully. The literature concerning tentorial dural arteriovenous fistulas is discussed in terms of effective therapeutic choice.     

MicroNester coil for neurointervention

A MicroNester coil (MNC) was developed from the Nester coil with a 0.018-in microcatheter. The most specific feature of the MNC is the extended length of 14 cm. Neurointervention involving the MNC was undertaken in 11 patients. Intervention procedures were transvenous embolization for a dural arteriovenous fistula in 4 patients, transarterial embolization for a dural arteriovenous fistula in 2, parent artery occlusion for a cerebral aneurysm in 4, and stent-assisted embolization for a carotid artery dissection in 1. A push technique through microcatheter was used to deploy the MNCs. The MNCs were successfully placed into the venous sinus lesion, feeding artery, parent artery of the aneurysm, and the pseudoaneurysm. There were no major technical complications resulting in morbidity. The postoperative course was uneventful except in 2 cases in which the occluded vessel recanalized. Use of MNCs was safe and feasible for embolization of cerebrovascular lesions. Fewer coils are required in embolization when using MNCs.     

Transcranial embolization of a transverse-sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula carried out through a decompressive craniectomy

Summary We report a case of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) of the transverse-sigmoid sinus presenting with intraventricular hemorrhage. Cerebellar infarction developed after transarterial embolization, and decompressive craniectomy was performed to relieve the mass effect. Through the bone window of the decompressive craniectomy, transcranial puncture of thetransverse sinus and coil occlusion of the fistula were successfully performed. Decompressive craniectomy may provide an opportunity to occlude DAVFs which cannot be occluded by the transarterial or transvenous approach.     

Fatal progression of posttraumatic dural arteriovenous fistulas refractory to multimodal therapy. Case report

The authors report the case of a man who suffered from progressive, disseminated posttraumatic dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) resulting in death, despite aggressive endovascular, surgical, and radiosurgical treatment. This 31-year-old man was struck on the head while playing basketball. Two weeks later a soft, pulsatile mass developed at his vertex, and the man began to experience pulsatile tinnitus and progressive headaches. Magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent angiography revealed multiple AVFs in the scalp, calvaria, and dura, with drainage into the superior sagittal sinus. The patient was treated initially with transarterial embolization in five stages, followed by vertex craniotomy and surgical resection of the AVFs. However, multiple additional DAVFs developed over the bilateral convexities, the falx, and the tentorium. Subsequent treatment entailed 15 stages of transarterial embolization; seven stages of transvenous embolization, including complete occlusion of the sagittal sinus and partial occlusion of the straight sinus; three stages of stereotactic radiosurgery; and a second craniotomy with aggressive disconnection of the DAVFs. Unfortunately, the fistulas continued to progress, resulting in diffuse venous hypertension, multiple intracerebral hemorrhages in both hemispheres, and, ultimately, death nearly 5 years after the initial trauma. Endovascular, surgical, and radiosurgical treatments are successful in curing most patients with DAVFs. The failure of multimodal therapy and the fulminant progression and disseminated nature of this patient's disease are unique.     

Use of a wedged microcatheter for curative transarterial embolization of complex intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: indications,endovascular technique,and outcome in 21 patients

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to describe the application of a novel transarterial approach to curative embolization of complex intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). This technique is particularly useful in patients harboring high-grade DAVFs with direct cortical venous drainage or for whom transvenous coil embolization is not possible because of limited sinus venous access to the fistula site due to thrombosis or stenotic changes. METHODS: Twenty-three DAVFs in 21 patients were treated using a transarterial N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) embolization technique with the aid of a wedged catheter. In all patients, definitive treatment involved two critical steps: 1) a microcatheter was wedged within a feeding artery, establishing flow-arrest conditions within the catheterized vessel distal to the microcatheter tip; and 2) NBCA was injected under these resultant flow-arrest conditions across the pathological arteriovenous connection and into the immediate draining venous apparatus, definitively occluding the fistula. Patient data were collected in a retrospective manner by reviewing office and inpatient charts and embolization reports, and by directly analyzing all procedural and diagnostic angiograms. Eight patients presented with the principal complaint of tinnitus/bruit, five with intracranial hemorrhage, four with cavrnous sinus syndrome, and one each with seizures, ataxia, visual field loss, and hiccups. The parent (recipient) venous structure of the DAVFs in this study included 11 leptomeningeal veins, eight transverse/sigmoid sinuses, three cavernous sinuses, and one sphenoparietal sinus. The NBCA permeated the arteriovenous shunt, perifistulous network, and proximal draining vein in all DAVFs. Occlusion was confirmed on postembolization angiography studies. No complication occurred in any patient in this series. There has been no recurrence during a mean follow up of 18.7 months (range 2-46 months). CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial NBCA embolization with the aid of a wedged catheter in flow-arrest conditions is a safe and an effective treatment for intracranial DAVFs.     

重点处理静脉端治疗硬脑膜动静脉瘘

目的 探讨治疗硬脑膜动静脉瘘的有效方法。方法 20例硬脑膜动脉瘘患者,其中海绵窦区8例,横窦、乙状窦区6例,小脑幕缘3例,上矢状窦区1例,Galen静脉1例,直窦1例。行引流静脉切断术5例,静脉窦孤立术1例,经静脉途径栓塞14例。结果 临床治愈13例,症状缓解6例,加重1例。影像学检查显示：瘘口完全消失11例;部分消失9例,但血流明显缓慢。术后16例患者获随访,随访时间1个月-4年。结论 重点处理静脉端是治疗硬脑膜动静脉瘘安全有效的方法。     

Complex dural arteriovenous fistulas. Results of combined endovascular and neurosurgical treatment in 16 patients

Of the 88 patients evaluated for symptomatic dural arteriovenous (AV) fistula over the past 8 years, 16 had large or complicated lesions that could not be treated with standard transvascular approaches or in which such treatment had been unsuccessful. Eleven fistulas were located in the transverse sinus, two in the cavernous sinus, two in the straight sinus, and one in the falx-tentorial region near the vein of Galen. The patients were treated with a combination of endovascular and neurosurgical techniques. Fourteen patients underwent preoperative transarterial embolization; this procedure closed the fistula in one patient. In the remaining 15 patients, surgery was performed to provide access to the fistula for embolization from either the venous or the arterial side, or for excision of the fistula. Transvenous embolization completely obliterated the fistula in seven of nine patients; the fistulas were embolized incompletely through the feeding arteries in two patients; and complete surgical resection of the lesion was accomplished in four patients. Complications related to venous occlusion occurred in two patients and one patient suffered communicating hydrocephalus that was effectively treated by shunting. There were no deaths. The results suggest that combined endovascular and neurosurgical techniques are a safe and effective means for the treatment of selected complex dural AV fistulas.     

Multiple Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Causing Rapid Progressive Dementia Successfully Treated by Endovascular Surgery: Case Report

A 67-year-old female presented with multiple dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) manifesting as dementia rapidly progressing over 2 months. The initial diagnosis was Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease based on the acute clinical course. However, angiography eventually revealed multiple dural AVFs involving the bilateral convexities to the superior sagittal sinus and the right transverse-sigmoid sinus. Endovascular treatment combining arterial and venous embolization in multiple stages proved to be effective, as the hemodynamic pathology improved, and the patient recovered from dementia. The cause of the dementia was thought to be venous hypertension in the deep white matter induced by the dural AVFs. Dural AVFs should be included in the differential diagnosis of rapidly progressive dementia.     

Radiological and pathological aspects of dural arteriovenous fistulas. Case report

A case of dural arteriovenous (AV) fistula is presented with detailed radiological and pathological findings. The complex hemodynamic alterations that may result from dural AV fistulas are described. Pathological examination in this case demonstrated widespread occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus with multiple abnormal fistulous communications between abnormal arteries and arterialized veins. A portion of the lesion resembled a recanalized blood clot, in support of the theory proposed by others that dural AV fistulas are acquired lesions.     

Transarterial embolization for cranial vault dural arteriovenous fistula: a case report

A 70-year-old man presented with a rare case of a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) at the cranial vault manifesting as headache. Cerebral angiography disclosed that multiple feeding arteries were immediately draining into the right parietal cortical vein without communication to the superior sagittal sinus, and this dAVF was classified as Borden type III and Cognard type IV. Transarterial embolization was performed using particles of polyvinyl alcohol and glue of n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate. After embolization, the dAVF had completely disappeared and the patient was discharged without any symptom. Angiogram one year after embolization showed no recanalization of dAVF. Transarterial glue embolization is a safe and effective treatment of dAVF with cortical venous reflux.