Multiple spinal and cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas

Synchronous multiplicity of cranial and spinal ducal arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) is known but uncommon. The authors report on a patient with the unusual finding of multiple cranial and multiple separate spinal DAVFs. The patient initially presented with vague visual symptoms in 2004. A cranial DAVF was identified along the left transverse sinus with cortical venous reflux and another DAVF was identified along the posterior part of the superior sagittal sinus with no cortical venous reflux. The first DAVF was treated both endovascularly and surgically and the second was left untreated. The follow-up angiogram showed multiple spinal DAVFs at the levels of C-1, C-2, and C-6 on the left side and at the C-3 level on the right side along with another cranial DAVF along the anterior part of the superior sagittal sinus with cortical venous reflux. A retrospective analysis of the digital subtraction angiogram and MR images suggested that the cervical spinal DAVFs were already present in 2004 (6 years previously). Multiple DAVFs, although rare, do exist and it is important to look for any evidence of their presence when evaluating patients with symptoms suggestive of arteriovenous fistulas. (DOI: 10.3171/2011.3.SPINE10315)