Dural arteriovenous fistulas of the cavernous sinus - clinical case and treatment

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of our article is to present the results of our treatment of dural arteriovenous fistula of the cavernous sinus by glue embolization of the external carotid artery feeders. By this case presentation we try to clarify the clinical course, with the dural carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), characterizing a pallet of symptoms, paying special attention to radiological finding and endovascular treatment. Dural arteriovenous fistulas represent 10% to 15% of all intracranial arteriovenous malformations (A. Fox, G. Duckwiler, “Dural Arteriovenous Fistula,” presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Neuroradiology, St Louis, Mo, June 1992). Dural arteriovenous fistulas are rare clinical situation, especially examples involving the cavernous sinus. Most dural fistulas are acquired conditions, typically occurring in postmenopausal women, but sometimes in other patients in association with other condition [1,3]. These dural fistulas are most often “spontaneous” cavernous carotid shunts (usually low-flow) [2, 4, 5], usually related to a past trauma or surgery. The classical triad, represented by pulsating exophthalmos, conjunctival chemosis, and pulsatile-tinnitus are well-known clinical symptoms of these lesions but are not necessary present in the majority of the patients as first indicators. The anatomy of these vascular malformations consists of multiple arterial feeders flowing into cavernous sinus. The arterial feeders are usually meningeal branches arising from the internal carotid artery (ICA) or the external carotid artery (ECA). However, there are few reports of large series [1], and the clinical entity is not widely known. The purpose of this paper is to present a clinical case of a patient with dural cavernous sinus fistulae, clarify the clinical symptoms course and special attention to results of endovascular treatment.