Management of tentorial dural arteriovenous malformations: transarterial embolization combined with stereotactic radiation or surgery

Abstract

The clinical, anatomical, and radiological features of nine cases of tentorial dural arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) are presented, and 45 reported cases are reviewed. Unlike dural AVM's of the transverse sigmoid and cavernous sinuses that usually have a benign natural history, dural AVM's of the tentorium typically present with hemorrhage or progressive neurological deficit. In this series, patients ranged in age from 52 to 72 years and included five men and four women. These patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, parenchymal hemorrhage, brainstem dysfunction, cerebellar signs, and obstructive hydrocephalus. Malformations were fed principally by the meningohypophyseal trunk, branches of the middle meningeal artery, and the occipital artery. Venous drainage was uniform through the cortical veins (predominantly the mesencephalic, petrosal, and cerebellar veins). Eight of the nine patients had an associated venous aneurysm(s); two had more than one venous aneurysm, and two patients had a vein of Galen aneurysm associated with the tentorial dural AVM. Eight of nine patients improved after treatment, including four patients with complete obliteration of the dural AVM. Based on our experience, we have developed a treatment protocol for tentorial dural AVM's that uses transarterial embolization followed by direct microsurgery or stereotactic radiation. These therapies, applied in a staged manner, have proven safe and relatively effective for the treatment of dural AVM's.