Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography of spinal arteriovenous malformations.

Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in two patients with spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas demonstrated the major feeding arteries and the venous drainage of the respective malformations. However, the dural component of the malformations--which distinguishes them from intradural malformations--could not be recognized, nor was normal cord vasculature demonstrated. In a patient with an intradural arteriovenous malformation (AVM), only major arterial feeders were demonstrated. Intraarterial DSA provides essential anatomic information with an increased margin of safety in spinal AVMs, but supplemental selective arteriography, conventional or digital, also is currently required.