title: Sacral epidural arteriovenous fistulas: imitators of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas with different pathologic anatomy: report of three cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Sacral epidural arteriovenous fistulas (eAVFs) are rare and often misdiagnosed because of the incongruence between the thoracic level of clinical deficits and the sacral location of the offending pathology. Failure to diagnose this lesion delays treatment, resulting in prolonged venous hypertension in the cord, progressive neurological deterioration, and decreased chances of recovery.
  
  
  
  A single-institution case series and the published literature were reviewed.
  
  
  
  Three patients had sacral eAVFs are located in the ventral epidural space with outflow connections to radicular veins that arterialized spinal cord veins, all presenting with thoracic myelopathy, venous engorgement, and delayed diagnosis. All eAVFs were occluded completely with radiographic and clinical improvement.
  
  
  
  Sacral eAVF pathophysiology, namely venous hypertension and compromised spinal cord circulation, is exactly the same as dural AVFs, as is their treatment: the interruption of outflow by occlusion of the draining vein, which effectively eliminates venous hypertension, without occlusion of the actual fistula itself. Epidural exposure of sacral eAVFs is not necessary, whereas complete intradural occlusion of their radicular drainage is. Draining radicular veins intermingle with the nerve roots and their occasional multiplicity makes them more difficult to identify intraoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, M779, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0112, USA.
authors.forename: Jan-Karl
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, M779, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0112, USA.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Safaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, M779, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0112, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, M779, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0112, USA. Michael.Lawton@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lawton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012447:Sacrum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Microsurgical clip occlusion; Sacral epidural arteriovenous fistula (eAVF); Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF); Thoracic myelopathy; Venous hypertension