Microsurgical treatment and outcomes of spinal arteriovenous lesions: Learned from consecutive series of 105 lesions

Spinal arteriovenous lesions (SAVLs), arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), are rare and can devastatingly impair spinal cord function. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes after microsurgical treatment with the aid of intraoperative indocyanine green video-angiography (ICG-VA) in a large series of patients with SAVLs. We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 95 consecutive patients with 105 SAVLs (77 spinal AVFs, 28 spinal AVMs) who had been treated surgically during 2010–2016 in two hospitals by the same experienced surgeon. All patients had undergone magnetic resonance imaging and digital subtraction angiography preoperatively and were assessed using the modified Aminoff and Logue Scale (mALS). All lesions were resected or occluded using ICG-VA. No ICG-VA-related complications occurred. Compared with AVF, patients with AVM tended to be younger (p < 0.001) and were at higher risk of an associated aneurysm (p = 0.021), hemorrhage (p < 0.001), pain (p < 0.001) and abrupt onset (p < 0.001). SAVLs were most common in the lower thoracic region (45.71%), and their most common clinical presentation was paresthesia (89.52%). At a mean follow-up of 33.3 months, mALS indicated significant improvement in patients with spinal AVFs (p < 0.001) and AVMs (p = 0.002) compared with their status preoperatively. An improved, stable clinical status was noted at the last follow-up in 93.51% of those with AVFs and 89.28% of those with AVMs. Thus, microsurgical treatment of SAVLs produced a lasting positive clinical outcome in a large cohort of consecutive patients. ICG-VA proved to be an efficient intraoperative tool during resection of these lesions, especially in patients with an AVF.     

Risk factors for dural arteriovenous fistula intracranial hemorrhage

To our knowledge, the risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage from dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) have not been systematically described, due to the complexity of their anatomy and low incidence. We performed this retrospective study to investigate the DAVF factors predicting intracranial hemorrhage. A 10 year database of 144 consecutive patients with DAVF was reviewed. Data collected and analyzed were demographics, morphologic features of DAVF, sex, age, fistula flow rate, arterial supply, lesion location, and venous drainage pattern. Linear univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between influencing factors and hemorrhage. A first linear univariate analysis was performed for all influencing factors, and showed that sex, lesion location, and venous drainage pattern were statistically significant in predicting intracranial hemorrhage (p < 0.05). Secondary multivariate logistic regression analysis with sex, lesion location, and venous drainage pattern showed that only venous drainage pattern was statistically significant in predicting intracranial hemorrhage (p < 0.05). Therefore, venous drainage pattern, particularly the cortical venous drainage, significantly predicts intracranial hemorrhage from DAVF. Both sex and lesion location may be confounding factors in predicting intracranial hemorrhage from DAVF, while the other factors may not be associated with hemorrhage.     

3T三维时间飞越法磁共振血管成像在硬脑膜动静脉瘘诊断中的应用

目的探讨3T三维时间飞越法(3D-TOF)磁共振血管成像(MRA)对硬脑膜动静脉瘘(DAVF)的诊断价值。方法对18例DAVF患者的头颅MRI、3D-TOF-MRA及DSA检查结果进行回顾性对照分析。结果发生部位以后颅凹最为常见(15/18,其中天幕9例,乙状窦及横窦区4例,窦汇区及颈静脉孔区各1例),顶部2例,海绵窦区1例。临床表现呈多样性,以颅内高压(8例)和癫闇(4例)最为常见。MRI以脑出血样混杂信号多见(9/18),可伴周边粗大流空血管影、脑水肿及脑组织萎缩等。3D-TOF-MRA显示供血动脉由颈内外、椎基底动脉共同参与多见(13/18例),6例血管影增多增粗,与DSA所见皮层静脉逆行(CVR)引流相吻合。结论 3T 3D-TOF-MRA结合常规MR影像,能较为准确地确定病灶的部位、供血动脉及皮层引流静脉,同时清晰显示DAVF继发性的颅内改变,弥补了DSA的不足,可对DAVF病变进行无创全面的评价。     

Acute bithalamic infarct manifesting as sleep-like coma: A diagnostic challenge

Bilateral thalamic infarction (BTI) typically presents as a sleep-like coma (SLC) without localizing signs, posing a diagnostic challenge that may lead the treating physician to search for toxic or metabolic causes and delay treatment. We review our experience with BTI of different etiologies, and emphasize the critical role of timely imaging, diagnosis, and management in a series of 12 patients with a presentation of SLC and acute BTI who were managed in our Medical Centers from 2006–2015. In 11/12, urgent head CT scans showed normal brain tissue, while diffusion-weighted (DWI) MRI revealed symmetric bilateral thalamic hyperintense lesions with variable degrees of brainstem involvement. In 1/12, CT scans revealed a contralateral subacute stroke from a thalamic infarct 1 month earlier with a unilateral hyperintense lesion on DWI-MRI. From clinical and imaging findings (DWI-MRI, CT angiography and venography), etiology was attributed to embolic causes (cardio-embolism, artery-to-artery mechanism), small vessel disease, or deep sinus vein thrombosis secondary to dural arteriovenous (AV) fistula. Three patients had good outcomes after prompt diagnosis and optimal treatment in <3 hours (intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in two patients cardio-embolic etiology and neuro-endovascular repair in one patient with venous infarction due to a dural AV fistula). The diagnosis was made beyond the therapeutic window in seven patients, who were left with significant neurological sequelae. Higher awareness of BTI presenting as SLC is warranted. Optimal patient management includes urgent DWI-MRI. In cases of BTI, further imaging workup is indicated to provide a comprehensive assessment for etiology. Early diagnosis and prompt, targeted intervention are crucial.     

Clinical presentation,imaging findings,and prognosis of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) is a relatively common acquired vascular malformation of the spinal cord. Assessment of a SDAVF is often difficult because of non-specific findings on non-invasive imaging modalities. Diagnosis of a SDAVF is often delayed, and some patients receive unnecessary treatment and treatment delays, often resulting in a poor outcome. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation, typical imaging findings, and long-term outcome of SDAVF. Forty patients (13 women, 27 men; mean age 58.18 ± standard deviation 14.75 years) who were treated at our hospital from June 1992 to March 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. We investigated the baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, treatment modalities, and outcome of the patients. The most common clinical presentation was a sensory symptom (80%), followed by motor weakness (70%), and sphincter dysfunction (62.5%). Roughly one-third (32.5%) of patients had a stepwise progression of fluctuating weakness and sensory symptoms, but the most common presentation was chronic progressive myelopathic symptoms (47.5%). Thirty-four patients (85%) had T2 signal change on the spinal cord MRI, indicative of cord edema. Thirty-eight patients had typical perimedullary vessel flow voids on T2-weighted MRI. Twenty-eight patients were treated with endovascular embolization, five patients underwent surgery, and four patients underwent both. Clinical outcome was determined by severity of initial deficit (p = 0.008), extent of cord edema (p = 0.010), treatment failure (p = 0.004), and a residual fistula (p = 0.017). SDAVF causes a treatable myelopathy, so early diagnosis and intervention is essential.     

4D-CT angiography differentiating arteriovenous fistula subtypes

Objective and methods

In the diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF), imaging has a key role in order to diagnose the dAVF, assess its bleeding risk and choose optimal treatment strategy. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for the most detailed image of a dAVF. Nowadays four-dimensional CT angiography (4D-CTA) could possibly be an additional first-line tool in the work-up of a patient suspected of a dAVF. We describe three cases clinically suspected of a dAVF which had a diagnostic work-up with 4D-CTA as well as DSA. We evaluated the angioarchitecture of the dAVF both on 4D-CTA and DSA, with emphasis on the patterns of venous drainage as this is important in assessing the bleeding risk of a dAVF.

Results and conclusion

4D-CTA identified the dAVF, revealed its angioarchitecture and correctly differentiated different patterns of venous drainage (Borden type I, II and III) as confirmed on DSA. Although DSA has the advantage of higher spatial and temporal resolution, 4D-CTA seems to be a new useful non-invasive tool in the diagnostic work-up of a patient suspected of a dAVF.     

Venous sinus compromise after pre-sigmoid,transpetrosal approach for skull base tumors: A study on the asymptomatic incidence and report of a rare dural arteriovenous fistula as symptomatic manifestation

The sigmoid sinus is routinely exposed and manipulated during pre-sigmoid, transpetrosal approaches to the skull base, but there is scant data available on the incidence of venous sinus compromise after surgery. We encountered a dural arteriovenous fistula as a result of sigmoid sinus occlusion and examined the incidence of venous sinus thrombosis or narrowing after transpetrosal surgeries. We performed a retrospective analysis of a series of patients treated by the senior surgeons (WCJ, MH, HJK), who underwent either a posterior petrosectomy or translabyrinthine approach for various skull base tumors. All available clinical and radiographic data were thoroughly examined in each patient to determine the post-operative fate of the venous sinuses. Of the 52 available patients, five patients were discovered post-operatively to have a narrowed or constricted sigmoid sinus ipsilateral to the surgery, whereas another five patients were diagnosed with asymptomatic sinus thrombosis either in the transverse or sigmoid or both. None of these patients experienced symptoms, nor were there any instance of ischemic or hemorrhagic complications. However, there was one additional patient who presented with pulsatile tinnitus 2 years after surgery. His angiogram showed an occlusion of the ipsilateral sigmoid sinus and a posterior fossa dural arteriovenous fistula. A two-stage transvenous and transarterial embolization was successful in eliminating the fistula. Technical considerations to avoid sinus injuries during pre-sigmoid, transpetrosal surgery are discussed.     

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis complicated with acute development of dural arteriovenous fistula: A case report

Development of dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) after cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was very uncommon and for all these reported cases, the dAVF was a chronic complication. We present a case of acute development of dAVF after CVST. A 40-year-old female was admitted into our department with 2 day’s headache and vomiting for 9 h. Head computed tomography (CT) scan showed only scattered minor hematomas over the right frontal lobe. Blood test indicated an elevated D-dimer. The patient experienced transient paralysis (Todd’s paralysis) after intermittent focal epilepsy from day 3, which progressed into sustained epilepsy on day 6. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on day 7 confirmed the thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus and a large area of infarction and edema in the left frontal and parietal lobe. She was then treated with heparin and warfarin. Cerebral angiography on day 9 demonstrated a dAVF which was classified as Borden Type II and fed by the left occipital artery. Subsequently, endovascular occlusion of the fistula was conducted and the patient recovered well with only slight right limbs weakness at 1 year follow up.     

表现为蛛网膜下腔出血的高颈段硬脊膜动静脉瘘

目的对表现为蛛网膜下腔出血的高颈段硬脊膜动静脉瘘发病机制进行分析,预测出血因素,避免漏诊,指导治疗。方法对5例表现为蛛网膜下腔出血的高颈段硬脊膜动静脉瘘的临床资料进行总结。结果5例瘘口均位于枕大孔区～颈2节段,由椎动脉脊膜支供血．通过髓周静脉引流。所有5例引流静脉均向颅内引流,有不同程度扩张,3例伴有静脉瘤样改变。手术后复合瘘口均消火,4例治愈,1例死亡。结论高颈段硬脊膜动静脉瘘向颅内引流并伴有引流静脉扩张易出血,颅内压增高可能是诱发出血的因素。血管造影应全面,避免小部分蛛网膜下腔出血的患者造影假阴性。手术夹闭瘘口并切断近端引流静脉是可靠的治疗方法。     

Transvenous embolization of an intraosseous dural arteriovenous fistula of the anterior condylar vein with anomalous venous drainage causing ocular manifestations

We report a patient with a rare dural arteriovenous fistula of the anterior condylar vein, who presented with unusual clinical symptoms due to the anomalous venous drainage. The patient had progressive ocular signs, a dilated venous pouch at the skull base and, on angiography, retrograde venous drainage into the superior ophthalmic vein. Transvenous embolization of the venous pouch produced complete amelioration of the ocular symptoms. Such treatment may be curative for dural arteriovenous fistulas of the anterior condylar vein.     

Surgical management of dural arteriovenous fistulas of the transverse–sigmoid sinus in 42 patients

A retrospective study was performed to analyse a prospectively collected database from a single surgeon (M.K.M.) of transverse–sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF) between 1991 and August 2011. During the study period, 144 patients with 160 DAVF were managed. Sixty-five of the DAVF were located in the transverse-sigmoid sinus and 42 were treated with surgery, or embolisation and surgery. All patients who underwent surgery were symptomatic with retrograde cortical venous drainage. The average follow-up period was 18 months (range, 2–82 months). Total elimination of the DAVF was achieved in all instances, including two patients (5%) who required further surgery after postoperative cerebral angiography showed that some venous drainage had persisted after the first operation. There was no new permanent neurological deficit or mortality attributable to surgery. Our institutional experience shows that in selected patients with transverse–sigmoid sinus DAVF, the involved sinus can be surgically resected with a high success rate and it is as safe as many alternative options. We suggest that this definitive treatment option should be offered to patients, and the outcome should be compared to other treatment modalities.     

Delayed diagnosis of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula in the absence of pathological vessels on MRI

The authors report on a 69-year-old man presenting with progressive leg weakness and gait ataxia over two years. A central intramedullary cord lesion ranging from T8-12 on MR imaging was misdiagnosed as a low-grade glioma and a biopsy was attempted followed by temporary clinical deterioration. Selective spinal angiography revealed a spinal dural arteriovenous (AV) fistula on the left L3 nerve root sheath despite the absence of pathological vessels on MR imaging. The fistula was successfully treated by microsurgical interruption of the arterialized intradural vein. The present case should remind us to include selective spinal angiography in our diagnostic work-up in patients predisposed for spinal dural AV fistula by male sex, advanced age and clinical presentation of slowly progressive sensorimotor symptoms with myelopathy on MR imaging, even in the absence of any pathological vascular structures.     

硬脊膜动-静脉瘘

硬脊膜动-静脉瘘(SDAVF)是一种常见的脊髓血管畸形,但临床表现常不具有特异性,临床医生对其认识不够,所以患者往往不能得到及时诊断,延误治疗。因此,早期诊断本病非常重要。本文总结了近年对SDAVF的临床特征、影像学表现、诊断和鉴别诊断要点及治疗方法的选择等方面的进展作一介绍。     

Distinction between Intradural and Extradural Aneurysms Involving the Paraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery with T2-Weighted Three-Dimensional Fast Spin-Echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective

The precise intra- vs. extradural localization of aneurysms involving the paraclinoid internal carotid artery is critical for the evaluation of patients being considered for aneurysm surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of T2-weighted three-dimensional (3-D) fast spin-echo (FSE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms in their paraclinoid regions were prospectively evaluated using a T2-weighted 3-D FSE MR imaging technique with oblique coronal sections. The MR images were assessed for the location of the cerebral aneurysm in relation to the dural ring and other surrounding anatomic compartments, and were also compared with the surgical or angiographic findings.

Results

All 28 aneurysms were identified by T2-weighted 3D FSE MR imaging, which showed the precise anatomic relationships in regards to the subarachnoid space and the surrounding anatomic structures. Consequently, 13 aneurysms were determined to be intradural and the other 15 were deemed extradural as they were confined to the cavernous sinus. Of the 13 aneurysms with intradural locations, three superior hypophyseal artery aneurysms were found to be situated intradurally upon operation.

Conclusion

High-resolution T2-weighted 3-D FSE MR imaging is capable of confirming whether a cerebral aneurysm at the paraclinoid region is intradural or extradural, because of the MR imaging''s high spatial resolution. The images may help in identifying patients with intradural aneurysms who require treatment, and they also can provide valuable information in the treatment plan for paraclinoid aneurysms.     

Clinical and radiographic results of balloon kyphoplasty for treatment of vertebral body metastases and multiple myelomas

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to augment vertebral body strength. This technique has been commonly used to treat osteoporotic, vertebral body compression fractures. The technique was also used to augment painful metastatic vertebral fractures. The objective of this study was to review the clinical and radiological results after kyphoplasty in patients with vertebral body compression fractures due to spinal metastasis and multiple myeloma and to determine factors that may affect outcome. Thirty-one patients had 41 vertebral body fractures secondary to spinal metastasis or multiple myeloma. A kyphoplasty procedure was performed on 39 levels. The pain and neurological status were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the American Spinal Injury Association classification scale scores, respectively. Radiological evaluations were used to measure vertebral body height loss (VBHL) and the segmental kyphosis angle before and after surgery. The major symptoms that patients presented with included pain (25 patients); and neurological deficit (four patients). Two patients presented with no symptoms because the metastases were found during cancer screening. The mean (±standard deviation [SD]) VAS score was 7.2 ± 2.2 before surgery and 1.6 ± 1.3 after surgery. The mean preoperative VBHL was 27.8 ± 11.3% for the thoracic spine and 27.7 ± 12.5% for the lumbar spine. VBHL values were reduced to 22.4 ± 10.0% and 18.4 ± 10.4% for the thoracic and lumbar spine after surgery, respectively. The segmental kyphosis angles decreased from 21.2 ± 11.4° to 17.0 ± 9.8° for the thoracic spine and from 15.3 ± 8.8° to 10.4 ± 7.2° for the lumbar spine after surgery. There was a correlation between the symptom duration and VBH restoration rate. There was no correlation between the amount of injected polymethylmethacrylate and pain relief. We concluded that kyphoplasty is a safe and effective procedure for treating painful vertebral body fractures caused by metastasis and multiple myeloma. It can restore VBH and correct the kyphosis angle. While the increased amount of the injected PMMA led to its leakage, it did not contribute to restoration of the VBH or kyphosis correction. Therefore, one should avoid injection of excessive amounts of PMMA.     

Early microsurgery on thoracolumbar spinal extradural arachnoid cysts: Analysis of a series of 41 patients

BackgroundWe designed this study to share our management experiences on spinal extradural arachnoid cysts (SEACs) to add more to the body of evidence for their treatment.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 41 patients who underwent microsurgery for thoracolumbar SEACs at our hospital from June 2009 to June 2019. All clinical data, including medical history, clinical features, imaging manifestation, operative findings, and prognosis, were extracted from medical records and databases. Perioperative differences of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, and postoperative Odom’s criteria were used to assess the surgical outcome.ResultsThe most common and very first clinical symptom in the 41 patients was pain (VAS = 2.82 ± 0.89), and the mean ODI value was 61.7 ± 8.9%. Imaging revealed that the cystic lesions in the thoracolumbar spine involved an average of 2.85 segments. Of the 41 patients, 39 underwent total cyst excisions, and 36 had their dural defect repaired by one of three methods. The mean postoperative follow-up time was 52.3 months. Postoperatively, one case developed kyphoscoliosis and two cases experienced a recurrence. The majority of patients showed excellent outcomes according to Odom’s criteria, the postoperative VAS (0.80 ± 1.08), and the ODI (15.4 ± 9.3%).ConclusionsThe most common clinical symptoms of thoracolumbar SEACs included progressive discomfort and pain around the involved spinal segments. Early surgical intervention relieved the patients from their symptoms. Microsurgery was recommended to resect the complete cyst and to repair the dural defect, but resection of the complete cyst is more necessary than just repairment of the dural defect for providing promising outcomes.     

Spontaneous carotid cavernous fistulas with special reference to the influence of estradiol decrease

Abstract

The etiology of the dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the cavernous sinus is still unknown. However, it is of interest that this condition usually occurs in post-menopausal women. The purpose of the present study was therefore to clarify the relationship between sex hormone blood levels and the occurrence of dural AVFs in the cavernous sinus. Serum sex hormone levels and factors associated with atherosclerosis were examined in 26 consecutive patients with dural AVF involving the cavernous sinus presenting at our institute during the last eight years and compared with those of a post-menopause control group. Of the present patient series, 21 (81%) were women. All except five had passed menopause. Five (24%) of the women patients presented with symptoms consistent with cessation of menstruation, namely, a blood level of estradiol significantly lower than the control value. Hypertension was recognized in 10 (71 %) of 14 females who had experienced menopause 10 or more years previously and in all male patients. A sudden abnormal decrease of blood estradiol levels in female patients demonstrating symptoms consistent with menopause may thus be an important precipitating factor in the occurrence of dural AVFs involving the cavernous sinus. Hypertension, in older female and male patients, with or without longstanding low blood estradiol levels, may cause atherosclerosis of the feeding vessels in the dura mater, resulting in the opening of a normal AV shunt to provide collateral circulation. [Neurol Res 1999; 21: 631-639]     

Spinal arteriovenous malformations: neurological aspects and results of embolization

Twenty consecutive patients with spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were found to have either a progressive, remitting or remitting-progressive course of disease. A characteristic progressive neurological decline was observed in 11 patients with dural fistulas and a similar decline was seen in 5 of the 9 patients with intradural AVMs. In addition to paraparesis and mixed sensory disorder, which ascended to a level of about T10, areas with spared sensation were occasionally found below this level. All cases with this progressive longitudinal myelopathy showed radiological evidence of a dilated medullary venous plexus. All patients were treated by embolization with only a low frequency of complications. Follow-up data verified a significant improvement of motor and sensory function, mainly during the first year after embolization. Cases with progressive neurological decline (dural and intradural AVMs) stopped deteriorating or improved and cases with a history of acute incidents (intradural AVMs) probably run less risk of acute deterioration.     

Double spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas

Background

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are usually solitary lesions. Synchronous and/or metachronous double SDAVF have rarely been reported in the literature. We report on three patients with double SDAVF and present our single center experience in the diagnostic and treatment management in these patients.

颅内硬脑膜动静脉瘘引起严重脊髓症状(3例报告)

目的 :结合 3例硬脑膜动静脉瘘 (IDAVF)伴脊髓表面引流的影像学、临床表现、病程特点 ,探讨引起脊髓症状的原因。方法 :分析 3例IDAVF伴脊髓表面引流的影像学特点、临床表现、病程发展 ,结合文献加以分析和讨论。结果 :临床症状主要表现为颅内症状者 1例 ,脊髓症状者 2例。结论 :IDAVF伴脊髓表面引流的临床表现与脊髓根静脉的引流出路有关。硬脑膜动静脉瘘伴脊髓症状的诊断较困难 ,特别是仅有脊髓症状者。年轻人中慢性脊髓病变 ,急性加重时应注意颅内血管造影可做出诊断