Unusual cause of treatable Parkinsonism

Abstract

A 78-year-old woman presented with features of bilateral, asymmetric Parkinsonism for 1 year, with prominent difficulties with continence, swallowing and apathy. Brain imaging showed evidence of chronic venous sinus thrombosis with dilated serpiginous vessels over the brain surface in keeping with a dural arteriovenous fistula, together with high T2 signal on MRI in the basal ganglia. Having responded only modestly to levodopa, she received 6 months of anticoagulation followed by embolisation of the dural arteriovenous fistula, with good response. Cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula is a rare, structural cause of atypical Parkinsonism.