[Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae associated with perimedullary arteriovenous fistulae: imaging characteristics and surgical treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To enhance the clinical doctors' cognizance of atypical spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVFs) associated with perimedullary anteriovenous fistulae (PMAVFs).
METHODS: The clinical imaging and surgical therapy of 3 patients with PMAVFs were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS: The clinical presentations of the 3 patients were not significantly different from those of typical SDAVFs. They were verified by repeated spinal angiography that the anterior spinal artery (ASA) is supplied to the drainage-vein. The 3 patients were treated surgically. First two operations were performed to eliminate the supply of ASA and dural branch, then the supply of the dural branch was amputated, and finally both the ASA and dural branch supplies were excised successfully. Clinical symptoms of the 3 patients were improved after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to perform thorough spinal angiography in patients with SDAVFs to exclude another fistula. The key point in the treatment of such patients is successfully to terminate both the spinal feeder and dural branch feeder.