title: Ocular manifestations and the clinical course of carotid cavernous sinus fistulas in Asian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical course with regard to both the angiographic and visual outcomes of carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Carotid cavernous sinus fistulas (CCFs) are conditions which often present with ocular signs and symptoms. The clinical presentation of CCFs is varied according to the anatomy, haemodynamics and size of the CCF. CCFs causing significant symptoms or vision loss should be treated with embolization.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of the medical records of all CCF cases seen in the Singapore National Eye Centre from September 2002 to December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 patients who had confirmed CCF on conventional cerebral angiography were included. Anterior draining CCFs presented with orbital congestion while posterior draining CCFs presented with pain, diplopia and cranial nerve palsies. Mild residual symptoms were still present in 85% of treated direct CCFs despite complete angiographic closure however 52% of treated dural CCFs had complete resolution of symptoms despite only half of those achieving angiographic closure. Treated and untreated dural CCFs had similar outcomes (87% versus 76% recovered or improved (p > 0.05)). Poor outcomes can result from residual diplopia or vision loss from complications of the CCF itself (e.g. compressive optic neuropathy, glaucoma, retinopathy) or complications from CCF embolization treatment (e.g. central retinal artery occlusion).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presenting symptoms and signs are related to the angiographic drainage of CCFs. Angiographic outcomes after embolization treatment may not always correlate with clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Centre , Singapore .
authors.forename: Anna C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Saadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farooqui
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yar Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Winston
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Seah Lay
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Looi
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004172:Diplopia / Q000175:diagnosis; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult