Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula associated with syringomyelia

The previously undescribed association of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula with syringomyelia was found in a 60-year-old male, who developed increasing paresis, numbness of both lower extremities and sphincteric dysfunction. Symptoms and signs were attributed to a syringomyelia at T5-L1 and an arteriovenous spinal dural fistula at L1. The fistula was successfully immobilised with N-butyl-cyano-acrylate. Six months after the procedure, all abnormalities had nearly disappeared. Whether the relation between the fistula and the syringomyelia was coincidental or causative could not be determined.