INTRACRANIAL DURAL FISTULAS - DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC CONSIDERATIONS

304 spontaneous cerebral dural fistulae reported in the literature were analyzed and compared to a series of 89 cases from our departments. Dural fistulae often become clinically apparent with typical symptoms, such as protrusio bulbi, chemosis or pulsatile tinnitus. Angiography is the method of choice in order to anlyze the hemodynamics of these lesions. Most importantly, the venous drainage of the fistulae into cerebral veins has to be assessed. These venous components of the lesions may be the source of severe cerebral hemorrhage resulting in neurological deficits. In this report, the necessity to investigate suspected dural fistulae as well as any atypical intracranial hemorrhage angiographically will be exemplified. The typical transvascular therapeutic procedures are described.