Clinical findings in a patient with spontaneous arteriovenous fistulas of the orbit.
OBJECTIVE
To report clinical and radiologic findings of a patient with spontaneous arteriovenous fistulas of the orbit.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A 73-year-old woman was initially examined with a 1-year history of mild proptosis of the right eye. She had no history of trauma. Neuro-ophthalmologic examination disclosed dilatation of conjunctival vessels, increased intraocular pressure, mild proptosis and bruit in the right eye, and ocular signs suggestive of carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas or orbital arteriovenous malformations. The patient exhibited dilation of the superior ophthalmic vein in enhanced computed tomography of the orbit. Selective cerebral angiography disclosed communications between branches of both ophthalmic and facial arteries and the superior ophthalmic vein in the orbit.


CONCLUSIONS
Arteriovenous fistulas of the orbit must be considered in the differential diagnosis of carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas and arteriovenous malformations, although they are quite rare.
Ohtsuka
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan. kohtsuka@sapmed.ac.jp
Hashimoto
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009915:Orbit / Q000098:blood supply*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities