Abstract
Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) of an anterior cranial fossa are rare. Because of the high risk of intracranial hemorrhage and relatively easy access for direct surgery, aggressive treatment has been recommended. The natural history of anterior cranial fossa dAVFs (ACF dAVFs) is unclear in spite of many reports for the natural history of general dAVFs. To treat ACF dAVFs, direct surgery has traditionally been performed and endovascular surgery has recently been introduced. A 74-year-old man was transferred with severe consciousness disturbance and presented with devastating intracerebral hemorrhage on the CT scan. Digital subtraction angiography revealed the ACF dAVFs with a large venous pouch. The patient received direct surgery, nevertheless he became vegetative state. Later on, a smaller venous pouch was recognized on the CT scan when he had suffered from the thalamic hemorrhage sixteen months before. There are twelve cases including our case which was treated for a certain period and documented in detail. Eleven of twelve cases were asymptomatic. Three of the six cases with a venous pouch had some events possibly related to the disease, though none of the six cases without a venous pouch had any events during observation. In conclusion, an ACF dAVF with a venous pouch should be treated by direct surgery or endovascular surgery even if it is incidentally found. By contrast, careful observation might be a possible therapeutic option for an ACF dAVF without a venous pouch if there is mild reflux flow.
Highlights
Dural arteriovenous fistulas comprise approximately 10% - 15% of all intracranial arteriovenous malformations [1] [2]
Anterior cranial fossa (ACF) Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) generally has the typical pattern of venous drainage, with the cortical drainage vein draining into the superior sagittal sinus and often a venous sac along the abnormal vein
We presented a case of an ACF dAVF with severe intracranial hemorrhage whose venous pouch was not recognized at the time of the thalamic hemorrhage sixteen months before, and reviewed the literature to clarify its natural history
Summary
Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) comprise approximately 10% - 15% of all intracranial arteriovenous malformations [1] [2]. Anterior cranial fossa (ACF) dAVF, called as ethmoidal dAVF, was first described by Lepoire et al in 1963 [6] and is relatively rare These dAVFs account for about 5.8% of all intracranial dAVFs [7] and have suggested a distinct subgroup for the typical features including a strong male predominance and a high incidence of hemorrhage. ACF dAVF generally has the typical pattern of venous drainage, with the cortical drainage vein draining into the superior sagittal sinus and often a venous sac along the abnormal vein. These fragile venous systems carry high risk of disruption and are considered to be responsible for intracranial hemorrhage [8]-[12]. We presented a case of an ACF dAVF with severe intracranial hemorrhage whose venous pouch was not recognized at the time of the thalamic hemorrhage sixteen months before, and reviewed the literature to clarify its natural history
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