Concomitant Lumbosacral Perimedullary Arteriovenous Fistula and Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

BACKGROUND

Although multifocal spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) have been reported before, the present case is the first case of 2 different types, including 1 perimedullary arteriovenous fistula and 2 spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas of lumbosacral AVMs, coexisting in 1 patient. We also report the use of hybrid techniques in treatment of concomitant lumbosacral spinal AVMs.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 65-year-old man presented with a 4-year history of progressive sensory, motor, and sphincter dysfunction. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging and digital subtraction angiography showed 2 spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (fed by the right L2 lumbar artery and the right lateral sacral artery, respectively) and 1 perimedullary arteriovenous fistula (fed by the filum terminale artery from the left L2 lumbar artery [i.e., filum terminale arteriovenous fistulas]. A hybrid technique was used to perform embolization of the right L2 spinal dural arteriovenous fistula and microsurgery of the L5 level filum terminale vein. The patient was asymptomatic 1 year later.

CONCLUSIONS

Multifocal spinal vascular malformations may coexist in 1 case, and standardized spinal digital subtraction angiography, including the bilateral internal iliac arteries and median sacral artery, should be performed to avoid a missed diagnosis. The concomitant phenomenon indicates that venous hypertension may be a risk factor for the development of arteriovenous fistulas. Hybrid techniques are effective in treatment of multifocal and complex spinal AVMs.