Radiology Case Reports (Jan 2025)

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) after venous sinus stent (VSS) for presumed idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): A case report and literature review

  • Fatma Shakarchi, MD, MSc,
  • Avery Zhou, MA,
  • Tuan Anh Nguyen, PhD,
  • Saif Aldeen Alryalat, MD,
  • Osama Al Deyabat, MD,
  • Fernando Ahumada, MD,
  • Peter Mortensen, MD,
  • Orlando Diaz, MD,
  • Andrew G. Lee, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 817 – 822

Abstract

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Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are rare but significant intracranial vascular malformations that are usually idiopathic and can lead to severe complications like venous hypertension and intracranial hemorrhage. We present 2 cases of DAVF occurring after venous sinus stenting (VSS) for presumed idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in a 51-year-old and a 52-year-old female. In both patients, Cognard type 1 DAVF was detected by Catheter angiography and successfully obliterated with Onyx™ embolization. These cases suggest that VSS may either unmask pre-existing DAVFs by altering intracranial pressure dynamics or induce new fistula formation by angiogenic factors or stent-induced hemodynamic changes. Clinicians should maintain an index of suspicion for DAVF in patients with persistent symptoms post-VSS and catheter angiography might be needed to detect the DAVFs.

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