Spontaneous cure of dural arteriovenous malformation in the posterior fossa

A 28-year-old male with spontaneous disappearance of dural arteriovenous malformation in the posterior fossa ten years after onset is reported. Ligation and excision of the right occipital artery brought about no marked changes in clinical manifestations and the post-operative angiogram. Over nine years after that operation, pulsatile tinnitus disappeared suddenly without any obvious cause and the dural arteriovenous malforamation was absent on the angiogram. The frequency of such an occurrence and some possible mechanisms involved are reviewed and discussed.