A Comprehensive Analysis of Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Involving the Superior Sagittal Sinus: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate published papers concerning dural arteriovenous fistula involving the superior sagittal sinus (SSS dAVF) treated with endovascular intervention.

Methods: A literature review was performed to identify studies reporting the clinical characteristics, vascular anatomy, endovascular techniques, embolic materials, angiographical result, and outcomes of SSS dAVF.

Results: The analysis consisted of 40 case reports or series, comprising a total of 51 cases of SSS dAVF treated with endovascular intervention. Clinical symptoms included hemorrhage (29.4%), infarction (17.6%), and seizure (7.8%). The arterial supply included the middle meningeal artery (MMA) (100%), superficial temporal artery (STA) (62.7%), and occipital artery (OA) (49.0%). Bilateral MMAs supplied in 78.4% of the cases. A pial arterial supply was observed in 21.6% of the cases. Stenosis or occlusion of the sinus was seen in 37.3% of the cases. The distribution of the Borden classification was as follows: I (7.8%), II (37.3%), and III (54.9%). The endovascular techniques were transvenous embolization (TVE) alone (11.8%), transarterial embolization (TAE) alone (74.5%), and a combination thereof (13.7%). The types of embolic materials for TAE were a coil (25.5%), n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) (33.3%), and Onyx (45.1%). The arterial pedicles for TAE included MMA (86.3%), STA (17.6%), and OA (9.8%). Direct surgical exposure for the alternative endovascular access was performed to the SSS (5.9%), MMA (3.9%), STA (5.9%), and OA (3.9%). Sinus angioplasty with or without stenting was done in 9.8% of the cases. Balloon-assisted Onyx TAE was done with proximal flow control (7.8%), collateral devascularization (5.9%), and sinus protection (3.9%). Complete occlusion was achieved in 86.3% of the cases while the number of endovascular sessions varied among patients: single (74.5%), double (15.7%), and triple (9.8%). The rate of a postoperative modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2 was 89.3%, with morbidity and mortality rates of 7.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Two patients died, possibly due to postoperative acute SSS occlusion.

Conclusion: The current systematic review disclosed several specific results, namely, the angioarchitectures of the SSS dAVF, the relationship between classification and hemorrhagic presentation, the diversity of treatment techniques, the association between the complete occlusion rate and the SSS condition, and the difficulty of achieving curable occlusion in a single session. These findings underscore the need for the development of endovascular techniques and devices to treat this challenging lesion. Improvements in adjunctive endovascular procedures, such as balloon-assisted techniques for Onyx TAE, may help support to the safe and effective obliteration of SSS dAVF.

Keywords: dural arteriovenous fistula; endovascular intervention; superior sagittal sinus.