Engorged medullary vein on CT angiography in patients with dural arteriovenous fistula: prevalence, types, and comparison between regional and extensive types

Abstract

Background and purposeEngorged medullary vein (EMV) in patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) suggests venous congestion. The aim of this study is to investigate its prevalence, pattern, and correlation with clinical findings.Materials and methodsCT angiography (CTA) raw data of DAVF were used for multiplanar reconstruction and then analyzed for the presence and pattern of EMV, which is defined as a dilated vein in the cerebral white matter. Patients with EMV were divided into two groups: regional and extensive. Regional type is defined as EMV limited to one cerebral hemisphere or cerebellum without evidence of subcortical calcification. Extensive type is defined as EMV involvement of more than one cerebral hemisphere or both the cerebrum and cerebellum. Descriptive analysis of clinical information, DAVF characteristics, and other imaging findings was conducted. Clinical information, including demographic data, clinical presentation, and hemorrhage, were correlated with both types of EMV.ResultsAmong 192 eligible patients with DAVF, 71 (37%) had EMV. Patients with EMV were older (63 years vs 56 years, P=0.02), with DAVF more often at the transverse and sigmoid sinus (P<0.001), and more often presented with aggressive symptoms (59% vs 34%, P=0.02) than non-EMV patients, but there was no difference in the presentation of hemorrhage (15% vs 16%, P=0.99). Patients with regional EMV had a higher proportion of hemorrhage than those with the extensive type (24% vs 0%, P=0.006).ConclusionsEMV in patients with DAVF is associated with an aggressive manifestation. Regional type EMV is associated with a higher risk of a hemorrhagic presentation.