Percutaneous embolization of arteriovenous fistulas of the external carotid artery.

Nineteen arteriovenous fistulas of the external carotid branches in 17 patients were treated by a variety of percutaneous transvascular techniques. There were nine females and eight males; 11 fistulas were traumatic in origin, five were "spontaneous," and three were thought to be congenital. The most frequent presenting symptoms were a bruit and thrill, followed by pulsatile tinnitus, pulsatile mass, headaches, and ocular problems. The symptoms were related to fistula site and venous drainage. The middle meningeal artery was involved most often, followed by the superficial temporal, occipital, internal maxillary, and ascending pharyngeal arteries. All patients except one were successfully cured, including one recurrence. There were no complications, and the hospital stay averaged 3 days.