Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis complicated with acute development of dural arteriovenous fistula: A case report

Abstract

Development of dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) after cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was very uncommon and for all these reported cases, the dAVF was a chronic complication. We present a case of acute development of dAVF after CVST. A 40-year-old female was admitted into our department with 2day's headache and vomiting for 9h. Head computed tomography (CT) scan showed only scattered minor hematomas over the right frontal lobe. Blood test indicated an elevated D-dimer. The patient experienced transient paralysis (Todd's paralysis) after intermittent focal epilepsy from day 3, which progressed into sustained epilepsy on day 6. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on day 7 confirmed the thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus and a large area of infarction and edema in the left frontal and parietal lobe. She was then treated with heparin and warfarin. Cerebral angiography on day 9 demonstrated a dAVF which was classified as Borden Type II and fed by the left occipital artery. Subsequently, endovascular occlusion of the fistula was conducted and the patient recovered well with only slight right limbs weakness at 1year follow up.

Keywords: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; Dural arteriovenous fistula; Todd’s paralysis.