title: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: a review.
abstract: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are a rare pathologic entity with a diverse and often misleading clinical presentation. While digital subtraction spinal angiography remains the gold standard, recent advances in noninvasive vascular imaging have improved the diagnosis of SDAVF. As this condition can result in permanent spinal cord injury, all patients require treatment, which consists of surgical or endovascular occlusion of the fistula. Failure to recognize and treat SDAVF in a timely fashion can result in irreversible neurologic disability, including myelopathy, lower extremity weakness and bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction. This article reviews the clinical features, pathogenesis, radiographic features and current treatment strategies for these complex lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. jom2049@nyp.org
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: I Paul
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sigounas
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knopman
authors.forename: Y Pierre
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Gobin
authors.forename: Athos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsalides
mesh_terms: D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000098:blood supply; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy