A Case of Dural Arterio-venous Malformation Involving the Cavernous Sinus

ABSTRACT

Dural arterio-venous malformations are vascular communications in which blood flows through small meningeal branches of the carotid arteries to enter the venous circulation near the cavernous sinus. Dural arterio-venous malformations are distinct neuroophthalmological syndrome which consisisted of symptoms such as exphthalmos, increased intraocular pressure, ipsilateral headache, and dilatation of episcleral vessels, but they are difficult to diagnose clinically. Moreover it is difficult to differentiate them from the more common carotid-cavernous fistulas which represent similar symptoms of dural arteio-venous malformations. We report a case of dural arteriovenous malformation, involving the cavernous sinus and confimed with selective carotid arteriography, in a patient who presented with symptoms of unilateral tinnitus, conjunctival injection, and raised intraocular pressure, along with the review of literatures.