Skip to main content
Log in

Diploic arteriovenous fistulas—classification and endovascular management

  • Clinical Article - Vascular
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The authors report on two cases of diploic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in the left parieto-occipital region of a 20-year-old female and the right parietal region of a 68-year-old male. The clinical presentation, angiographic appearance, and endovascular management of these rare lesions are discussed.

Methods

Retrospective data from two patients with diplopic AVFs are examined with a review of all published cases of diploic arteriovenous fistulas.

Results

Where previously reported diploic AVFs showed venous drainage to be intracranial or combined, two case studies examined by the authors found exclusively extracranial drainage in the AVFs. In both case studies the lesions were primarily fed by the middle meningeal artery and treated via a transarterial endovascular approach using n-BCA glue.

Conclusions

After reviewing all reported cases of AVF in the literature and combining our two new observations, we concluded that diploic AVFs can have three types of venous outflow: draining toward dural sinuses only, toward extracranial veins only, and combining the dural and extracranial pathways.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aminoff MJ (1973) Vascular anomalies in the intracranial dura mater. Brain 96:601–612

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Benndorf G, Lehmann TN (2004) Bilateral diploic arteriovenous fistula causing scalp hematoma. J Neurosurg 100:950–955

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Burger IM, Tamargo RJ, Broussard J, Gailloud P (2005) Combined surgical and endovascular treatment of a spontaneous diploic arteriovenous fistula. Case report. J Neurosurg 103:179–181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hershkovitz I, Greenwald C, Rothschild BM, Latimer B, Dutour O, Jellema LM, Wish-Baratz S, Pap I, Leonetti G (1999) The elusive diploic veins: anthropological and anatomical perspective. Am J Phys Anthropol 108:345–358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ikeda H, Niizuma H, Suzuki J, Nagamine Y, Kameyama M (1985) Chemical embolization using estrogen for aneurysmal bone cyst of the skull: case report. No Shinkei Geka 13:203–208

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ishii R, Ueki K, Ito J (1976) Traumatic fistula between a lacerated middle meningeal artery and a diploic vein; case report. J Neurosurg 44:241–244

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kim MS, Oh CW, Han DH, Kwon OK, Jung HW, Han MH (2002) Intraosseous dural arteriovenous fistula of the skull base associated with hearing loss. Case report. J Neurosurg 96:952–955

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Mortazavi MM, Tubbs RS, Riech S, Verma K, Shoja MM, Zurada A, Benninger B, Loukas M, Cohen Gadol AA (2012) Anatomy and pathology of the cranial emissary veins: a review with surgical implications. Neurosurgery 70:1312–1318, discussion 1318–1319

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mullan S (1994) Reflections upon the nature and management of intracranial and intraspinal vascular malformations and fistulae. J Neurosurg 80:606–616

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Mullan S, Mojtahedi S, Johnson DL, Macdonald RL (1996) Embryological basis of some aspects of cerebral vascular fistulas and malformations. J Neurosurg 85:1–8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. O’Rahilly R, Muller F (1986) The meninges in human development. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 45:588–608

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ogawa K, Oishi M, Mizutani T, Maejima S, Mori T (2010) Dural arteriovenous fistula on the convexity presenting with pure acute subdural hematoma. Acta Neurol Belg 110:190–192

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Saba MI, King RB (1973) Extravasation of angiographic contrast material from a torn middle meningeal artery into the diploi. Case report. J Neurosurg 38:89–91

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Shim JH, Yoon SM, Shim JJ, Kim RS (2011) A case of intraosseous dural arteriovenous fistulas involving diploic vein treated with transarterial onyx embolization. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 50:260–263

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Vidyasagar C (1978) Persistent embryonic veins in arteriovenous malformations of the brain. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 40:103–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of Interest

All authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucia Rivera-Lara.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rivera-Lara, L., Gailloud, P. & Nyquist, P. Diploic arteriovenous fistulas—classification and endovascular management. Acta Neurochir 157, 1485–1488 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-015-2505-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-015-2505-6

Keywords

Navigation