DURAL ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULAS OF THE MARGINAL SINUS

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical presentation, angiographic findin gs, endovascular management, and clinical outcome in dural arterioveno us fistulas (DAVFs) of the marginal sinus. METHODS: Fourteen patients with DAVFs of the marginal sinus were identified from angiographic stu dies and medical records of all patients treated for DAVFs at our inst itution between July 1990 and August 1995. The endovascular treatment and clinical outcomes of these patients are reported. RESULTS: Eleven patients had pulse-synchronous bruit, two had intracranial hemorrhage, and one had ataxia. Thirteen patients were cured with endovascular te chniques alone and one was cured by a combination of preoperative embo lization followed by surgical obliteration of the fistula. The sole co mplication of treatment was a partial left hypoglossal nerve palsy, wh ich resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSION: DAVFs of the marginal sinuses are potentially life-threatening lesions that can be treated with endo vascular techniques for a high rate of cure and a low rate of morbidit y.