Cerebral arteriovenous malformations associated with a straight sinus anomaly.

Nine cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) associated with straight sinus anomaly were demonstrated on angiograms. All 10 AVM (1 patient had two AVM) occupied deep cerebral structures: Seven were totally or partially located in the basal ganglia or the corpus callosum, and 3 were in the medial occipital or temporal lobe. In 6 patients, almost no filling of the straight sinus was observed, although the AVM were located deeply and the main drainage was via the vein of Galen. All 6 patients showed retrograde flow in the deep cerebral veins or venous drainage through a persistent facial sinus. The other 3 patients had duplication or septal formation of the straight sinus. Straight sinus anomaly is extremely rare in the normal population but seems not uncommon in patients with deep-seated AVM.