Communicating carotid-cavernous sinus fistula following minor head trauma

Introduction

A case of communicating carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) after minor closed head injury is presented.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital with the chief complaint of blurred vision and facial numbness. The patient had experienced a minor head injury 1 month ago with loss of consciousness. After a 2-week symptom-free period, he developed scalp and facial numbness, along with headache and vision problems. His vital signs were within normal limits, but on examination the patient was noted to have orbital and carotid bruits with several concerning neurological findings. CT and MRI confirmed the suspicion of carotid-cavernous sinus fistula, which was managed by cerebral angiography with coil embolization of this fistula. The patient was symptom free at the 8-month follow-up.

Discussion

Carotid-cavernous sinus fistula is a rare condition that is usually caused by blunt or penetrating trauma to the head, but can develop spontaneously in about one fourth of patients with CCF. The connection between the carotid artery and cavernous sinus leads to increased pressure in the cavernous sinus and compression of its contents, and thereby produces the clinical symptoms and signs seen. Diagnosis depends on clinical examination and neuroimaging techniques. The aim of management is to reduce the pressure within the cavernous sinus, which results in gradual resolution of symptoms.     

经眼上静脉插管栓塞治疗颈动脉海绵窦瘘

目的 探讨切开暴露眼上静脉插管介入栓塞治疗颈动脉海绵窦瘘(CCF)的方法和疗效.方法 1996年6月至2006年6月经眼上静脉途径栓塞治疗复杂的CCF 32例,男女各16例.均以眼部症状就诊,其中9例为直接型CCF,都是经动脉途径球囊栓塞失败或复发的病例.23例为硬膜型CCF,有3例曾做过颈外动脉供血支的液体栓塞剂(NBCA)、线段或PVA颗粒的栓塞.手术在导管室采用全身麻醉,经眉切开解剖暴露眼上静脉穿刺插管进入海绵窦.栓塞材料有游离弹簧圈、电解脱弹簧圈、真丝线段、球囊和NBCA.结果 32例中完全栓塞占81.3%(26/32);残留岩下窦少量引流占12.5%(4/32);只闭塞了眼上静脉,其他引流仍有显影的占6.2%(2/32);眼部症状均有好转,没有死亡和永久性残疾.门诊随访22例,平均3.5年,没有临床症状复发.结论 切开解剖暴露眼上静脉的技术简单,经眼上静脉插管进入海绵窦的路径短直,可用包括球囊在内的多种栓塞材料填塞海绵窦.对于复杂的CCF采用眼上静脉途径栓塞是安全有效的治疗方法.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the effect of endovascular embolotherapy treatment of carotid cavernous fistulas(CCF) via superior ophthalmic vein(SOV).Methods From June 1996 to June 2006,a total of 32 patients(16 female) with complex CCF underwent endovascular embolotherapy treatment through the SOV.All of the patients visited doctor due to ocular signs and symptoms.Nine patients with direct CCF had previously undergone partial arterial balloons embolotherapy.The other 23 patients were hard mater CCF,and of which 3 had underwent NBCA,embolotherapy with line section or PVA particle.In the angiographic suite all patients underwent general anesthesia,SOV was catheterized through the eyebrow incision.Cavernous sinus was packed with free coils,detachable coils or balloons and NBCA.Results Complete embolism of the arteriovenous shunt was achieved in 81.3%(26/32).A minor residual shunt(without cortical or ocular drainage) remained in 12.5%(4/32).Only SOV was occluded in 6.2%(2/32).All patients were clinical improvement without complications.No death and permanent disability occurred.No recurrence was observed during follow-up of mean time of 3.5 years in 22 outpatients.Conclusion The operative approach to SOV is straightforward and several kind of embolic materials can be used to embolize the cavernous sinus.Endovascular occlusion of cavernous sinus through the SOV is an efficient and safe treatment in CCF.     

Venous angioma associated with atypical ophthalmoplegic migraine

BACKGROUND: Ophthalmoplegic migraine is a rare syndrome in which episodic headaches are associated with ophthalmoplegia. Several recent reports emphasize the possibility, especially in atypical cases, of a heterogeneous type of ophthalmoplegic migraine. METHODS: We describe the case of an 18-year-old woman with recurrent episodic headache accompanied by binocular diplopia due to left third cranial nerve palsy. The symptoms resolve in hours. A diagnosis of atypical ophthalmoplegic migraine was established. RESULTS: Digital angiography revealed a venous angioma draining into the left cavernous sinus. CONCLUSIONS: This case reveals the importance of differential diagnosis in atypical migraine in which the symptomatology could be secondary to intracranial lesions. We propose venous stasis as a cause of symptoms.     

A Contrast Enhanced Lesion of the III Nerve on MR of a Patient With Ophthalmoplegic Migraine as Evidence for a Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome

SYNOPSIS
A 23-year-old female with a six year history of migraine without aura twice developed a nearly complete internal and external III nerve paresis ipsilateral to her headache, two days after the onset of migraineous headache. An MR scan performed one week after the second episode showed a contrast enhanced lesion of the prepontine III nerve, where it enters the cavernous sinus on the left side. The headache, as well as the paresis ameliorated spontaneously. We suggest this is a further well documented case of "ophthalmoplegic migraine" which might reflect Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.     

Swollen and bloodshot eye following headache

A ruptured cavernous carotid aneurysm (CCA) with carotid cavernous fistula can appear as a benign headache but progress to a swollen and bloodshot eye overnight. A 66-year-old woman visited emergency department with sudden onset of pain behind her left forehead and vomiting. She was treated for a migraine-like headache and discharged. She presented again on the next day with a persistent headache and a swollen left eye with blurred vision. An ophthalmologic examination revealed erythema of the left lid and chemosis at the temporal and lower bulbar conjunctiva. A cranial nonenhanced computed tomography (CT) scan had been performed at her previous visit. The scan exhibited a nodular mass lesion involving the left cavernous sinus. CT angiography was subsequently used to determine that the lesion was a giant aneurysm in the left cavernous internal carotid artery, causing enlargement of the left ophthalmic veins. The symptoms of her left eye rapidly progressed to severe chemosis, edematous change over periocular region, and limited movements after 8?h. The patient received emergent lateral canthotomy and inferior cantholysis to avoid acute orbital compartment syndrome and was subsequently treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. A ruptured CCA is an urgent condition that requires rapid assessment of both cranial vascular and ocular lesions. A history of sudden onset headache with a nonpainful acute unilateral red eye may serve as a clue to prompt additional diagnostic studies and ophthalmologist evaluation. Adequate radiological studies and early endovascular intervention can reduce the likelihood of permanent ocular injury and vision impairment.     

Sinus problems as a cause of headache refractoriness and migraine chronification

Sinus headache is not a diagnostic term supported by the academia, yet it appears to be understood by the general public and larger medical community. It can be considered both a primary and secondary headache disorder. As a primary headache disorder, most of the patients considered to have sinus headache indeed have migraine (migraine with sinus symptoms). Yet it is also possible that some attacks of sinus headache may represent a unique clinical phenotype of migraine or be a unique clinical entity. Potentially, primary sinus headache can chronify and be refractory through immune-mediated mechanisms or as a catalyst for migraine chronification through ineffective treatment or medication overuse and misuse. As a secondary headache disorder, sinus headache can be associated with a wide range of underlying etiologies such as infection, anatomical abnormalities, trauma, and immunological disease or sleep disorders. It is possible that these underlying pathophysiological processes generate long-standing activation of nociceptive mechanisms involved in headache and can lead to chronification and refractoriness of the headache symptomatology. This article explores some of the potential mechanisms and the available scientific studies that may explain how sinus headache can become chronic and present to the clinician as a refractory headache disorder.     

颈内动脉海绵窦瘘的经血管内栓塞治疗

目的:评价颈内动脉海绵窦瘘(CCF)经血管内栓塞治疗的方法及价值。材料和方法:分析14例经血管内介入治疗的颈内动脉海绵窦瘘病例,以带毛弹簧栓、可脱球囊或电解可脱弹簧栓(Guglielmi Detachable Coil,GDC)经动脉或静脉途径栓塞瘘口。6例采用带毛弹簧栓,共54个,其中1例同时经眼静脉穿刺逆行栓塞海绵窦。7例采用球囊栓塞,1例因为瘘口小无法放置弹簧栓和球囊而采用GDC栓塞。结果:本组中13例CCF瘘口完全堵塞,其中4例同时堵塞颈内动脉,患者症状消失。1例已有6年病史的CCF颈内动脉参与大脑供血无法栓塞,经栓塞与海绵窦相通的颈外动脉后,又经眼静脉栓塞海绵窦致瘘口明显缩小。结论:经动脉内以球囊、弹簧栓或GDC栓塞是治疗CCF的有效方法,其中以球囊栓塞操作安全简便为首选材料。引流静脉粗大者逆行栓塞可以起补充作用。     

血管造影CT在肝海绵状血管瘤介入治疗中的应用

目的:利用CT造影及VR重建技术探讨肝海绵状血管瘤血供方式,借以指导临床选择适当的介入方法,并预测单纯肝动脉栓塞术(HAE)的远期疗效。材料与方法:肝脏海绵状血管瘤患者11例,共26个病灶。每位患者均行CTA、CTAP及常规DSA造影。以肝固有动脉DSA为金标准,对CT三维重建图像进行评估,并评定肿瘤血管。结果:本研究26个病灶均见肝动脉分支进入肿瘤内;所有病灶均无门静脉分支进入瘤体的直接证据。VR重建与DSA图像有很好的符合率。结论:血管造影CT基础上的VR三维重建对HAE选择靶血管具有重要的指导意义。利用VR重建图像,结合肝固有动脉及间接门静脉DSA图像可以推测单纯HAE的远期疗效。     

颈内动脉海绵窦瘘的栓塞治疗

目的　进一步探讨颈内动脉海绵窦瘘 (CCF)血管内栓塞治疗的方法及临床价值。方法　在DSA监视下 ,采用法国Balt公司的同轴可脱性球囊技术 ,对 12例CCF患者进行了可脱性球囊栓塞治疗。结果　一次完全性地栓塞了颈内动脉瘘口 ,又保持了颈内动脉通畅 ,大脑前、中动脉显示清晰者 11例 ,占 92 % ;术后临床症状和体征完全消失。结论　采用可脱性球囊血管内栓塞是治疗CCF的最好方法 ,其操作简单 ,安全可靠 ,疗效好 ,值得进一步推广。     

Endovascular treatment of a direct post-traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula with electrolytically detachable coils

Carotid-cavernous fistulae are abnormal communications between the internal carotid artery and venous compartments of the cavernous sinus. Fistulae are uncommon but well-documented sequelae of craniofacial trauma. The characteristic clinical presentation includes ocular pain, chemosis, exophthalmus and visual disturbances. We report on a 28-year-old man with a history of severe craniocerebral injury, including multiple craniofacial fractures resulting from a fall from a height of approximately 6 meters, who was surgically treated one year ago. Two months before presentation, the patient began to exhibit progressive chemosis, proptosis, eyelid swelling, diplopia and exophthalmus. Computerized tomography and computerized tomographic angiography revealed findings consistent with a carotid-cavernous fistula of the right side of the cavernous sinus with dilatation of the right ocular vein. Digital subtractional angiography of the right internal carotid artery revealed a fistula between the cavernous part of the artery and the right cavernous sinus. There was only minimal blood flow in the supraclinoid part of the internal carotid artery because of the high pressure within the fistula. Our decision was to try to occlude the fistula by means of endovascular embolization. The origin of the fistula in the internal carotid artery was successfully obliterated with seven electolytically detachable coils. Control digital subtractional angiography at the end of the procedure demonstrated minimal residual flow through the fistula. Two months after the treatment, angiographic control revealed complete obliteration of the fistula. Clinical examination showed total resolution of signs and symptoms of a carotid-cavernous fistula. Endovascular transarterial embolization of carotid cavernous fistulae is a widely accepted, safe and successful treatment option. In the case that we describe we occluded the fistula and right cavernous sinus with electrolytically detachable coils that we could place into the sinus. Other endovascular treatment options include the use of detachable balloons, stent placement, transvenous embolization or surgical ligation of the fistula.     

颈内动脉系统血管内治疗技术的临床探讨

目的 探讨颈内动脉系统血管内治疗技术与效果。方法 采用股动脉入路、颈内动脉选择性插管的方法,行脑癌区域性化疗5例、CCF栓塞治疗6例共14次。治疗前先行全脑血管造影,CCF加行压颈功能试验。结果 14例次颈内动脉介入操作技术成功率为100％,无任何严重并发症;所有患治疗后均症状缓解或消失。脑癌介入化疗后均有瘤体缩小和瘤周水肿减轻改变。6例CCF球囊栓塞后5例达到影像学痊愈且保持了人动脉通畅;1例瘘口巨大同时闭塞了颈内动脉。结论 颈内动脉介入性脑癌化疗及CCF闭塞术较为安全、有效。     

Craniometric measures in cluster headache patients

Blockade of venous drainage in the cavernous sinus, which may play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of cluster headache (CH), could be triggered by local inflammation. It could also be favored by a constitutional narrowness of the cavernous sinus region. Before exploring the latter with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we determined whether external morphometric skull measures are different among CH patients ( n =25), healthy volunteers ( n =21), and migraine patients ( n =20). All subjects were males of comparable age distribution. Six measures were taken: inion-nasion perimeter, inion-nasion distance over the vertex; distance between the upper ends of tragus; diameter at the level of the temporal fossa; diameter at mid inion-nasion perimeter at ear level; and inion-nasion diameter. CH patients had significantly smaller values than healthy subjects and/or migraine patients in all but one measure (ANOVA and Duncan's post-hoc analysis). This may suggest that they have a narrower anterior/middle cranial fossa, and possibly a narrower cavernous sinus loggia, which needs to be confirmed by a quantitative MRI study.     

Neuromeningeal access for transarterial intravenous carotid-cavernous fistula embolization

While numerous endovascular access routes have been described for carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) treatment, transarterial embolization via the neuromeningeal trunk of the ascending pharyngeal artery is typically avoided due to the risk of cranial nerve palsy or non-target embolization via external-to-internal carotid anastamoses. We present the case of a dural CCF in which access to the venous side of the fistula was achieved via the neuromeningeal trunk and allowed for curative transarterial intravenous coil/liquid embolic embolization of the lesion. The utility of a transarterial intravenous approach in the face of venous sinus occlusion is highlighted. The neuromeningeal trunk should not be overlooked as a potential access route for transarterial intravenous CCF embolization in cases where traditional endovascular access is limited; this approach does not carry the same risks that are generally associated with pure transarterial embolization along this pathway.     

Sinus headache: a neurology, otolaryngology, allergy, and primary care consensus on diagnosis and treatment

Sinus headache is a widely accepted clinical diagnosis, although many medical specialists consider it an uncommon cause of recurrent headaches. The inappropriate diagnosis of sinus headache can lead to unnecessary diagnostic studies, surgical interventions, and medical treatments. Both the International Headache Society and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery have attempted to define conditions that lead to headaches of rhinogenic origin but have done so from different perspectives and in isolation of each other. An interdisciplinary ad hoc committee convened to discuss the role of sinus disease as a cause of headache and to review recent epidemiological studies that suggest sinus headache (headache of rhinogenic origin) and migraine are frequently confused with one another. This committee reviewed available scientific evidence from multiple disciplines and concluded that considerable research and clinical study are required to further understand and delineate the role of nasal pathology and autonomic activation in migraine and headaches of rhinogenic origin. However, this group agreed that greater diagnostic and therapeutic attention needs to be given to patients with sinus headaches.     

Xper-CT Guide引导下眼上静脉穿刺术在海绵窦区硬脑膜动静脉瘘栓塞中的运用

目的 探讨飞利浦DSA血管机中Xper-CT Guide 导航穿刺软件引导下眼上静脉穿刺术在海绵窦区硬脑膜动静脉瘘栓塞术中指导作用和应用价值。 方法 回顾性分析2017年8月至2019年12月收治的3例海绵窦区硬脑膜动静脉瘘患者经Xper-CT Guide 导航穿刺软件引导下直接经眼上静脉入路穿刺海绵窦。 结果 3例患者均穿刺成功,成功率为100%,一次性栓塞治愈海绵窦区硬脑膜动静脉瘘。 结论 Xper-CT Guide引导下眼上静脉穿刺术成功率高,可精准辅助手术医生经眶穿刺眼上静脉,指导手术路径,在复杂的海绵窦区硬脑膜动静脉瘘栓塞治疗中有一定的临床应用价值。     

Pseudoaneurysm Within the Cavernous Sinus Presenting as Cluster Headache

SYNOPSIS
Cluster headache and its associated signs end symptoms have been described in medical literature for years. The etiology of this condition remains unresolved. We describe a unique patient who presented with a cluster headache syndrome concurrent with new-onset pseudoaneurysm within the cavernous sinus. Our review and analysis of this patient confirms current theories which describe the role of the cavernous sinus as a locus of pathology in cluster headache.     

Migraine aura without headache: benign, but a diagnosis of exclusion

Migraine aura without headache should be considered as a diagnosis in anyone who has recurrent episodes of transient symptoms, especially those that are visual or neurological or involve vertigo. Visual and neurological symptoms due to migraine are not unusual and most commonly occur in older persons with a history of migraine headaches. Migraine aura without headache should be diagnosed only when transient ischemic attack and seizure disorders have been excluded.     

Ophthalmologic aspects of headache

Pain around the eye can be caused by local ophthalmic disorders or by disease of other structures sharing trigeminal nerve sensory innervation. In general, most ocular causes for pain also cause the eye to be red, thus alerting the examiner to the focality of the problem. However, conditions like eyestrain, intermittent angleclosure glaucoma or neovascular glaucoma, and low-grade intraocular inflammation can be painful and not be associated with obvious redness. Ocular signs and symptoms also occur with numerous other causes of headache. Double vision in association with periocular pain can result from orbital lesions, isolated cranial neuropathies, and cavernous sinus lesions. Pupillary abnormalities like Horner's syndrome may result from a variety of painful conditions, including cluster headache, parasellar neoplasms or aneurysms, internal carotid dissection or occlusion, and Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Pain with a dilated and unreactive pupil may reflect a benign condition like Adie's syndrome or ophthalmoplegic migraine, or it may herald the presence of a life-threatening posterior communicating artery aneurysm. Headache and transient visual loss can be manifestations of classic migraine, or be symptoms of ocular hypoperfusion from ipsilateral internal carotid occlusion or increased intracranial pressure from pseudotumor cerebri. In a young patient, head pain with a fixed visual deficit may result from optic neuritis, in an older adult, temporal arteritis may be the culprit. Ophthalmologic aspects of headache thus encompass problems that range from simple and benign to complex and formidable.     

Headache and facial pain in scuba divers

Headache occasionally occurs during or after scuba diving. Although its significance often is benign, headache may signal a serious neurological disorder in some circumstances. In addition to the usual causes of headache, the diagnostic evaluation should consider otic and paranasal sinus barotrauma, arterial gas embolism, decompression sickness, carbon dioxide retention, carbon monoxide toxicity, hyperbaric-triggered migraine, cervical and temporomandibular joint strain, supraorbital neuralgia, carotid artery dissection, and exertional and cold stimulus headache syndromes. Focal neurologic symptoms, even in the migraineur, should not be ignored, but rather treated with 100% oxygen acutely and referred without delay to a facility with a hyperbaric chamber.