SPONTANEOUS CAROTID-JUGULAR FISTULA AND CAROTID DISSECTION IN A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE INTRACRANIAL ARACHNOID CYSTS AND HEMIFACIAL ATROPHY -A GENERALIZED CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISORDER - CASE-REPORT

The authors report a case of a 45-year-old woman with pulsatile tinnit us who was found to have an unusual spontaneous fistula between the pe trous internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein. The fistula r esolved spontaneously, possibly related to daily manual compression of the ipsilateral common carotid artery. The patient also had a contral ateral carotid artery dissection, multiple intracranial arachnoid cyst s, and hemifacial atrophy. Her medical history was significant for eas y bruisibility, abnormal scarring, and mitral valve prolapse. This ass ociation appears unique and may represent a previously undescribed gen eralized connective tissue disorder.