Serious myelopathy due to magnetic resonance imaging-occult arteriovenous fistula: Case report of petrous ridge dural arteriovenous fistula

Interv Neuroradiol. 2015 Oct;21(5):609-12. doi: 10.1177/1591019915591742. Epub 2015 Jun 26.

Abstract

Background and purpose: We present a case of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-occult intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) with serious cervical myelopathy and review the pathophysiological background.

Summary of case: A 61-year-old man had suffered from progressive neurological deterioration. He had demonstrated swollen spinal cord with diffuse enhancement and no dilated vascularity on MRI. Finally, digital subtraction angiography revealed DAVF at the petrous ridge and it was successfully treated by embolization.

Conclusion: A slow flow DAVF is not readily recognizable on MRI. Whenever a patient presents with unexplainable progressive myelopathy, a possibility of vascular origin has to be considered.

Keywords: Dural arteriovenous fistula; angiography; magnetic resonance imaging; myelopathy; spinal cord disease; therapeutic embolization.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiography, Digital Subtraction
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / complications*
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / diagnostic imaging*
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / therapy
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Embolization, Therapeutic
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / therapy