Intraorbital Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting with Impaired Extraocular Movement After a Provocation Test at the Third Segment of the Ophthalmic Artery

Abstract

Background: Distal catheterization in the ophthalmic artery beyond the origin of the central retinal artery has been attempted to avoid visual complications in cases of transarterial embolization (TAE). Although avoiding visual complications is important, extraocular complications have been rarely reported and discussed. Here, we report a case of an intraorbital arteriovenous fistula (AVF) presenting with impaired extraocular movement after a provocation test and discuss the potential risks associated with TAE at the third segment of the ophthalmic artery.

Case description: A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a newly diagnosed vascular lesion on the left optic chiasm. A left internal carotid angiogram revealed an intraorbital AVF fed by distal branches of the left ophthalmic artery taking a recurrent course toward the proximal ophthalmic artery, and the anterior branches of the inferior lateral trunk draining into the tortuous basal vein of Rosenthal with a varix. Neither the cavernous sinus nor the superior ophthalmic vein was opacified as draining routes of this lesion. A provocation test was done for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes at the third segment of the ophthalmic artery. During the test, the patient developed a transient impaired adduction of the left eye without any visual field deficit; therefore, TAE was avoided. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was recommended a transcranial transvenous embolization for a radical treatment.

Conclusions: In intraorbital hypervascular lesions, occlusion of the third segment of the ophthalmic artery is associated with a potential risk of extraocular complications.

Keywords: Extraocular movement; Intraorbital arteriovenous fistula; Ophthalmic artery; Provocation test.