Occasional Finding of a Dural Arteriovenous Fistula in a Newborn with Orbital Lymphangioma

Abstract

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF) are vascular malformations rarely occurring in the paediatric population1,2,3. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are mandatory to prevent life-threatening complications including congestive heart failure and severe brain injury1,2. We describe the case of a female newborn with an orbital lymphangioma treated for a posterior fossa DAVF. We emphasize the role of MR imaging as a useful non-invasive tool in the diagnosis of these malformations and in the evaluation of associated brain parenchymal lesions.