Transcortical Venous Approach for Direct Embolization of a Cavernous Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: Technical Case Report

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. onsE343-onsE348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navjot Chaudhary ◽  
Stephen P. Lownie ◽  
Miguel Bussière ◽  
David M. Pelz ◽  
David Nicolle

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) represent 10% to 15% of all intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Most often, embolization is accomplished with transfemoral catheter techniques. We present a case in which embolization of a cavernous sinus dAVF was made possible through transcranial cannulation of a cortical draining vein. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old woman presented with diplopia, left sixth cranial nerve palsy, intraocular hypertension, and bilateral chemosis. Angiography revealed a complex cavernous dAVF with cortical venous reflux, supplied by both external carotid arteries and the left meningohypophyseal trunk. Percutaneous transvenous access failed, and only partial occlusion was achieved by transarterial embolization. A frontotemporal craniotomy was performed to access the superficial middle cerebral vein in the left sylvian fissure. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a microcatheter was advanced through this vein to the floor of the middle cranial fossa and into the dAVF, permitting coil occlusion. CONCLUSION: This transcranial vein technique may be a useful adjunct in dAVF therapy when percutaneous transarterial or transvenous approaches fail or are not possible.

2020 ◽  
pp. 197140092097251
Author(s):  
Chandra Dev Sahu ◽  
Nishant Bhargava

Dural arterio-venous fistulas of the middle cranial fossa may occur within the dura of lesser or greater sphenoid wings. Lesser sphenoid wing fistulas rarely recruit cortical venous drainage and mostly drain in the cavernous sinus. On the other hand, greater sphenoid wing dural fistulas, also known as paracavernous fistulas or sphenobasilar and sphenopetrosal sinus fistulas, are much more notorious as they almost always connect with the superficial middle cerebral vein resulting in secondary cortical venous reflux and varix formation. Curative transarterial or transvenous endovascular embolisation of fistulous connection is the primary therapeutic strategy, particularly using onyx via the transarterial approach. In the present case we describe a 62-year-old man who presented with significant subarachnoid haemorrhage, intraparenchymal and intra-ventricular bleed. Digital subtraction angiography showed a middle cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistula in the region of the sphenobasilar sinus with cortical venous reflux and varix formation. The patient underwent successful transarterial endovascular embolisation with complete elimination of the fistula using onyx 34, onyx 18, squid 12 and a Scepter XC balloon using the pressure cooker technique. We also report the development of facial nerve palsy due to inadvertent reflux of onyx in the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery.


2013 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Cruz ◽  
Rene van Dijk ◽  
Timo Krings ◽  
Ronit Agid

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) of the cavernous sinus are acquired arteriovenous shunts between the dural branches of the internal and external carotid arteries and the cavernous sinus. These fistulas may present with cortical venous reflux, but more commonly drain antegradely toward the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV). Transvenous embolization is the most common endovascular treatment, but in some cases transvenous access to the compartment of the shunt may not be possible. In cases with no corticovenous reflux, manual compression of the SOV is an excellent alternative treatment, which is well known but rarely reported in the literature. The authors describe a series of 3 cavernous DAVFs with anterior drainage treated successfully by intermittent manual compression of the SOV.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Chung ◽  
Y. C. Weon

The embryonic tentorial sinus usually regressses during postnatal development, but its typical prenatal drainage patterns and intradural anastomoses can be depicted as various developmental phenotypic representations. Here, we tried to clarify the variant types of the superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV) associated with the embryonic tentorial sinus. Total 41 patients and 82 hemispheres were included in this study. CT angiography was performed in all patients as screening for cerebrovascular disease or other intracranial disorders. A separate workstation and 3D software were used to evaluate the cranial venous systems with 3D volume rendering techniques, thin-slice MIP images, and MPR techniques for the analysis of its complicated angioarchitecture. Variations of the SMCV were classified according to the developmental alterations of the embryonic tentorial sinus, including sphenoparietal sinus (cranial remnant of tentorial sinus), basal sinus (floor of middle cranial fossa), petrosal and caudal remnant of the tentorial sinus. Secondary intradural anastomoses of cavernous and superior petrosal sinuses were also evaluated for the efferent pathways. The most frequent type of remnant tentorial sinus, sphenoparietal sinus was present in 49% (40/82) of hemispheres examined. Other regressed patterns of embryonic tentorial sinus were also identified in 38% (31/82): nine caudal remnant type around the transverse sinus, 12 petrosal type, one basal type, five unclassified cases, and mixed type were found in four cases. Secondary intradural cavernous sinus anastomosis was seen in 44% (36/82), however the most prevalent pattern was no anastomosis (46/82) with cavernous sinus. Only one case of superior petrosal sinus anastomosis was found in this series associated with basal sinus type. Anatomic variations of SMCV can be clearly demonstrated with embryologic aspects of the tentorial sinus according to its developmental regression and postnatal secondary adaptations of cerebral venous drainage.


2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (Special_Supplement) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Ho Jung ◽  
Jong Hee Chang ◽  
Kum Whang ◽  
Jin Soo Pyen ◽  
Jin Woo Chang ◽  
...  

Object The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for treating cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas (CSDAVFs). Methods Of the 4123 GKSs performed between May 1992 and March 2009, 890 procedures were undertaken to treat vascular lesions. In 24 cases, the vascular lesion that was treated was a dural arteriovenous fistula, and in 6 of these cases, the lesion involved the cavernous sinus. One of these 6 cases was lost to follow-up, leaving the other 5 cases (4 women and 1 man) to comprise the subjects of this study. All 5 patients had more than 1 ocular symptom, such as ptosis, chemosis, proptosis, and extraocular movement palsy. In all patients, CSDAVF was confirmed by conventional angiography. Three patients were treated by GKS alone and 2 patients were treated by GKS combined with transarterial embolization. The median follow-up period after GKS in these 5 cases was 30 months (range 9–59 months). Results All patients experienced clinical improvement, and their improvement in ocular symptoms was noticed at a mean of 17.6 weeks after GKS (range 4–24 weeks). Two patients received embolization prior to GKS but did not display improvement in ocular symptoms. An average of 20 weeks (range 12–24 weeks) was needed for complete improvement in clinical symptoms. There were no treatment-related complications during the follow-up period. Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery should be considered as a primary, combined, or additional treatment option for CSDAVF in selected cases, such as when the lesion is a low-flow shunt without cortical venous drainage. For those selected cases, GKS alone may suffice as the primary treatment method when combined with close monitoring of ocular symptoms and intraocular pressure.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 712-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Taptas

Abstract The so-called cavernous sinus is a venous pathway, an irregular network of veins that is part of the extradural venous network of the base of the skull, not a trabeculated venous channel. This venous pathway, the internal carotid artery, and the oculomotor cranial nerves cross the medial portion of the middle cranial fossa in an extradural space formed on each side of the sella turcica by the diverging aspects of a dural fold. In this space the venous pathway has only neighborhood relations with the internal carotid artery and the cranial nerves. The space itself must be distinguished from the vascular and nervous elements that it contains. The revision of the anatomy of this region has not only theoretical interest but also important clinical implications.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Takahashi ◽  
I. Sakuma ◽  
T. Otani ◽  
K. Yasuda ◽  
N. Tomura ◽  
...  

The termination of the superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV) has been described as entering or being partially equivalent to the venous sinus coursing under the lesser sphenoid wing, which has classically been called the sphenoparietal sinus. However, the recent literature reports that the SMCV is not connected to the sphenoparietal sinus. In this study, the venous anatomy was evaluated to clarify the anatomy of the sphenoparietal sinus and the termination of the SMCV. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 1.5-T superconductive units using a three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state (3-D fast SPGR) sequence with fat suppression in a total of 48 sides of 24 patients. Coronal source images and reconstructed axial images were displayed on the Advantage Window Console, and connections to the cavernous sinus were then evaluated for the venous sinus coursing under the lesser sphenoid wing (hereafter called the sinus of the lesser sphenoid wing), the middle meningeal vein, and the SMCV. The following findings were observed bilaterally in all patients. The sinus of the lesser sphenoid wing was connected medially with the cavernous sinus and laterally with the anterior branch of the middle meningeal vein near the pterion. The anterior branch of the middle meningeal vein entered the bony canal laterally above the junction with the sinus of the lesser sphenoid wing and coursed along the inner table of the skull or emerged into the diploic vein, indicating its parietal portion. Although the termination of the SMCV had several patterns, the SMCV was not connected with the sinus of the lesser sphenoid wing in any of the patients. The sphenoparietal sinus is considered to consist of the sinus of the lesser sphenoid wing and the parietal portion of the anterior branch of the middle meningeal vein; these were identified as venous structures distinct to the SMCV.


1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
N. Kuwayama ◽  
S. Endo ◽  
M. Kubo ◽  
T. Akai ◽  
A. Takaku

Angiographic changes of the sylvian veins, superior ophthalmic vein (SOV), and superior petrosal sinus (SPS) before and after endovascular treatment were determined for 18 patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) involving the cavernous sinus, and pitfalls of endovascular treatment, especially regarding venous drainage routes, for 3 of the patients were reported. Case 1: 57-year-old woman who presented with right abducens nerve palsy had a Barrow type D fistula in the right cavernous sinus draining into the bilateral inferior petrosal sinuses (IPS). One of the ipsilateral sylvian veins that had drained antegradely before treatment was occluded, and a small lacunar infarction in the corona radiata developed after transvenous embolization (TVE) of the right cavernous sinus. Case 2: 72-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of right ocular hypertension had a type D fistula in the right cavernous sinus draining into only the ipsilateral SOV. Conjunctival hyperemia persisted and was aggravated after angioanatomical obliteration of the fistula by transarterial embolization. Case 3: 55-year-old man who presented with left abducens nerve palsy had a type D fistula in the left cavernous sinus draining into the ipsilateral IPS and sylvian vein. The dural AVF was obliterated once with TVE, but recurred 1 week later with retrograde drainage into the ipsilateral SPS and mesencephalic veins. A second TVE resulted in complete obliteration of the fistula. In conclusion, detailed analysis of drainage routes is necessary for planning of treatment of patients with dural AVF, and prompt treatment is needed when redistribution of drainage routes develops during or after TVE.


2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 1331-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuminari Komatsu ◽  
Mika Komatsu ◽  
Tooru Inoue ◽  
Manfred Tschabitscher

Object The cavernous sinus is a small complex structure located at the central base of the skull. Recent extensive use of endoscopy has provided less invasive approaches to the cavernous sinus via endonasal routes, although transcranial routes play an important role in the approach to the cavernous sinus. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of the purely endoscopic transcranial approach to the cavernous sinus through the supraorbital keyhole and to better understand the distorted anatomy of the cavernous sinus via endoscopy. Methods Eight fresh cadavers were studied using 4-mm 0° and 30° endoscopes to develop a surgical approach and to identify surgical landmarks. Results The endoscopic supraorbital extradural approach was divided into 4 stages: entry into the extradural anterior cranial fossa, exposure of the middle cranial fossa and the periorbita, exposure of the superior cavernous sinus, and exposure of the lateral cavernous sinus. This approach provided superb views of the cavernous sinus structures, especially through the clinoidal (Dolenc) triangle. The lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, including the infratrochlear (Parkinson) triangle and anteromedial (Mullan) triangle, was also clearly demonstrated. Conclusions An endoscopic supraorbital extradural approach offers excellent exposure of the superior and lateral walls of the cavernous sinus with minimal invasiveness via the transcranial route. This approach could be an alternative to the conventional transcranial approach.


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