Foramen magnum dural arteriovenous fistula treated by a microsurgical technique combined with a feeder occlusion using transarterial coil embolization

Abstract

The treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) at the foramen magnum remains controversial by reason that DAVFs appearing from the foramen magnum represent only a minority of spinal DAVFs. We present our treatment for an asymptomatic patient suffering from a foramen magnum DAVF. A 53-year-old man presented to our hospital with the complaint of a floating sensation. Although there was no subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral infarction on magnetic resonance imaging, a magnetic resonance angiography revealed a number of dilated veins and a large varix surrounding the medulla oblongata. Cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed a foramen magnum DAVF fed by the neuromeningeal branch of the left ascending pharyngeal artery and occipital artery, draining into the posterior spinal vein. Occlusion of the fistula was achieved by a microsurgical technique combined with a feeder occlusion using transarterial coil embolization, without complications. We verified the complete occlusion on post-operative cerebral DSA. While this combined therapy was already established for the treatment of DAVFs, there were no reports of the combined therapy for foramen magnum DAVFs. This treatment was considered to be useful for foramen magnum DAVFs, especially those DAVFs at the foramen magnum with a number of dilated veins and a large varix.