[A case of spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula disappearing following irradiation].

A case of spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula, which completely disappeared following irradiation (45 Gy), is reported. A 59-year-old woman was admitted on October 10, 1983, with a history of doplopia and recurrent retrobulbar and occipital pain. On admission, neurological examination showed no neurological deficit, and right cerebral angiography demonstrated a dural internal carotid-cavernous fistula fed by the meningohypophyseal trunk and drained into the inferior petrosal sinus. In spite of the conservative management, right oculomotor palsy and hypesthesia corresponding to the division of ophthalmic branch of the right trigeminal nerve was developed. On November 22, liniac irradiation to the region of fistula (30 days, total dose, 45 Gy) was started. Symptoms and signs gradually improved 3 weeks after irradiation and completely disappeared 3 months after irradiation. Carotid-cavernous fistula was no longer demonstrated by the cerebral angiography 7 months after irradiation. Two years after onset, no recurrence of symptoms was observed.