Spinal Osseous Epidural Arteriovenous Fistula with Intradural Reflux: A Case Report

The authors report a rare case of spinal osseous epidural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with intradural reflux. A 71-year-old lady with a past history of a T12 compression fracture and neurofibromatosis type 1 presented with progressive paraparesis. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the thoracolumbar spine showed edema of the spinal cord and flow voids. Catheter angiography revealed segmental arteries from T11 to L1 feeding an AVF in the epidural space. The AVF drained not only into the epidural venous plexus but also into the perimedullary veins. Of note, there was an intraosseous drainage route that involved the basivertebral vein of T12. Under the diagnosis of spinal osseous epidural AVF with intradural reflux, surgical interruption of the intradural arterialized draining vein was performed. Spinal osseous epidural AVF with intradural reflux is rare with only four cases reported in the past. We believe that spinal osseous epidural AVF should be recognized as a variant of spinal epidural AVF.