Sphenoid wing dural arteriovenous fistula: A case report and literature review

Sphenoid wing dural arteriovenous fistula (SWDAVF) is rare that is typically fed by middle meningeal artery feeders and that drain through the sphenoparietal sinus or middle cerebral vein. Here, we report a case of SWDAVF treated by coils placed in the venous aneurysm through the contralateral cavernous sinus (CS).

A 37-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with headache and bilateral oculomotor nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance images and an angiogram showed a venous aneurysm in the right middle cranial fossa. A DAVF, consisting of two main feeders, was diagnosed based on the angiogram findings. The fistula drained into the left inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) through the left CS and right IPS. Given the remarkable extent of venous ectasia together with the headache and right abducens nerve paralysis, endovascular treatment was initiated. A transvenous approach through the right IPS was not feasible, as it is strenuous to insert the microcatheter into the right IPS. Thus, we tried an approach through the left IPS. The venous aneurysm was embolized with coils. The postoperative course was uneventful, and postoperative cerebral angiography confirmed disappearance of the fistula.

A SWDAVF is extremely rare. In our case, since the AVF drained into the contralateral CS, contralateral ocular symptoms occurred. Endovascular occlusion of the venous aneurysm and fistula was achieved through a transvenous approach.