Bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage due to tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula: a case report and systematic literature review / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of cerebral hemorrhage caused by tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula (TDAVF).Methods:An unusual TDAVF case admitted to the Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University in March 2020, complicated with hypertension with successive bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage in short term was reported. The characteristics of cerebral hemorrhage caused by TDAVF reported in the literature were summarized and analyzed.Results:Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed that there was arteriovenous fistula in the tentorial foramen area of this patient (male, 33 years old), and the TDAVF was fed by the right meningohypophyseal trunk, bilateral middle meningeal artery and posterior cerebral artery. A shunted pouch was present in the tentorial foramen area, and retrograde reflux drainage was seen in the deep venous system, from the meningeal vein to superior sagittal sinus or sigmoid sinus. Transarterial embolization was performed and subsequently DSA showed obliteration of the fistula. This patient experienced no clinical decline or rehemorrhage during the 12 months follow-up period. Forty-one cases of TDAVF with hemorrhage of cerebral parenchyma which were reported before March 30, 2021 with detailed clinical and imaging data were summarized. The average age of onset of this group of patients was 57.2 years, and the ratio of male to female was about 3∶1. The hemorrhage was located in superior of the tentorium in 17 cases (41%), while in inferior of the tentorium in 24 cases (59%). Supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage mainly occurred in occipital lobe and thalamus. DSA showed that the arteriovenous fistula was classified as Borden type Ⅲ or Cognard type Ⅳ in 36 cases (88%). Twenty-nine patients (71%) underwent a single surgical procedure, while 12 cases (29%) underwent combined surgical or other treatments. Overall, 37 patients (90%) achieved angiographically documented obliteration of the fistula and 39 patients (95%) experienced good or excellent outcomes.Conclusions:TDAVF often presents as cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage which is common in supratentorial region, but rare in basal ganglia region. The cause of cerebral hemorrhage in patients with hypertension may not be attributed to hypertension. Early diagnosis and intervention are of great significance to improve the prognosis of patients.