Arterial Spin Labeling Was Useful for Evaluating the Treatment Response of a Transverse-Sigmoid Sinus Dural...

We report the case of a patient in whom arterial spin labeling (ASL) was useful for assessing the effects of treatment for a transverse-sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula (TSS-dAVF).

The patient was a 65-year-old man. Cerebral angiography demonstrated an aggressive dAVF involving the TSS, superior sagittal sinus (SSS), and the sinus confluence, with severe cortical and deep venous reflux. We performed multiple transarterial and transvenous embolizations for the TSS and sinus confluence lesion. The shunt disappeared almost completely after embolization. A high signal intensity that had been apparent in the SSS and straight sinus (StS) on ASL imaging before embolization disappeared after embolization. ASL imaging 3 months after embolization revealed slightly a high signal intensity in the StS, which was considered to be due to recurrence of the lesion. Moreover, recurrence of the confluence and TSS-dAVF was observed on cerebral angiography 6 months after embolization. As additional embolization was considered difficult, radiation therapy was recommended, but the patient refused; therefore, follow-up was performed. As ASL imaging findings were consistent with cerebral angiography findings, careful examination and monitoring of changes on ASL imaging were subsequently performed.

Follow-up using ASL imaging is useful to assess the effects of treatment performed for a dAVF.