Precision diagnosis and therapy of a case of brain abscesses associated with asymptomatic pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Brain abscesses, a severe infectious disease of the CNS, are usually caused by a variety of different pathogens, which include Streptococcus intermedius (S. intermedius). Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs), characterized by abnormal direct communication between pulmonary artery and vein, are a rare underlying cause of brain abscesses. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a previous healthy 55-year-old man who presented with 5 days of headache and fever. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested a brain abscess. Thoracic CT scan and angiography demonstrated PAVFs. Aiding by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample which identified S. intermedius as the causative pathogen, the patient was switched to the single therapy of large dose of penicillin G and was cured precisely and economically. CONCLUSIONS: It is an alternative way to perform mNGS to identify causative pathogens in patients with brain abscesses especially when the results of traditional bacterial culture were negative. Further thoracic CT or pulmonary angiography should also be undertaken to rule out PAVFs as the potential cause of brain abscess if the patient without any known premorbid history.

Superficial Temporal Artery Arteriovenous Fistula and Pseudoaneurysm: The Yin-Yang Sign.

Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Transvenous embolization of thalamic arteriovenous malformation under transient cardiac standstill.

Transvenous embolization (TE) has been increasingly applied for arteriovenous malformation (AVM) treatment. Transient cardiac standstill (TCS) has been described in cerebrovascular surgery but is uncommon for endovascular embolization. The authors present a patient with a ruptured thalamic AVM in whom both techniques were applied simultaneously. Surgery was considered, but the patient refused. Transarterial embolization was performed with an incomplete result. The deep-seated draining vein provided sole access to the AVM. A microcatheter was advanced into the draining vein. Under TCS, achieved with rapid ventricular pacing, complete AVM embolization was obtained. One-year magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral angiography demonstrated no residual AVM.The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/CAzb9md_xBU.

Multimodal management of arteriovenous malformations of the basal ganglia and thalamus: factors affecting obliteration and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the basal ganglia and thalamus are particularly difficult lesions to treat, accounting for 3%-13% of all AVMs in surgical series and 23%-44% of malformations in radiosurgery series. The goal of this study was to report the results of multimodal management of basal ganglia and thalamic AVMs and investigate the factors that influence radiographic cure and good clinical outcomes. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all patients treated at the authors' institution. Clinical, radiological, follow-up, and outcome data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the influence of various factors on outcome. RESULTS: The results and data analysis pertaining to 123 patients treated over 32 years are presented. In this cohort, radiographic cure was achieved in 50.9% of the patients. Seventy-five percent of patients had good clinical outcomes (stable or improved performance scores), whereas 25% worsened after treatment. Inclusion of surgery and radiosurgery independently predicted obliteration, whereas nidus diameter and volume predicted clinical outcomes. Nidus volume/diameter and inclusion of surgery predicted the optimal outcome, i.e., good clinical outcomes with lesion obliteration. CONCLUSIONS: Good outcomes are possible with multimodal treatment in these complex patients. Increasing size and, by extension, higher Spetzler-Martin grade are associated with worse outcomes. Inclusion of multiple modalities of treatment as indicated could improve the chances of radiographic cure and good outcomes.

Recurring Thalamic Symptoms Due to Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: Report of Unusual Case and Treatment Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Initial clinical presentation of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) with predominantly thalamic symptoms is rare and has not been reported until now. CASE DESCRIPTION: A young child presenting with complaints of tinnitus and mild right hemiparesis was evaluated with an initial magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed a Borden type 2 DAVF in the right transverse sinus with retrograde venous drainage and cortical venous reflux. Flow-related small aneurysms were also noted in the left basal vein of Rosenthal (BVR). Two days later, his motor power deteriorated and he developed right hemisensory loss and severe thalamic pain. Aphasia was atypical and mimicked the transcortical type. Repeat imaging revealed expanding thrombosed aneurysm of BVR with mass effect and edema on thalamocapsular region. Initial antiedema measures reversed the neurologic deficits; however, they recurred, necessitating an urgent endovascular intervention. Angiogram revealed an extensive high-flow DAVF in the right transverse-sigmoid sinus and torcula with preferential retrograde venous drainage into deep veins and left BVR. He underwent staged embolization of DAVF, resulting in significant obliteration of shunt. Neurologic deficits improved in the postoperative period, and the patient remained clinically asymptomatic at 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: DAVF presenting with recurrent predominantly thalamic symptoms is rare. Atypical transcortical aphasia rather than fluent aphasia is an unusual clinical manifestation of thalamic pathology and could result from the involvement of specific thalamic nuclei. Preferential high flow into BVR in the presence of venous anomalies could potentially induce architectural weakness of the venous wall and precipitate aneurysm formation. Embolization of the DAVF can potentially reverse this unusual neurologic condition.

Transarterial Balloon-Assisted Glue Embolization of Pial Arteriovenous Fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular disconnection of pial arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and effectiveness of transarterial balloon-assisted glue embolization for treating pial AVFs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical and imaging records of 8 patients with high-flow pial AVFs treated by transarterial balloon-assisted glue embolization from August 2011 to July 2017. RESULTS: There were 6 male patients and 2 female patients with age range of 1-48 years. Presentation was seizure in 4 patients, headache in 3 patients, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 1 patient. Seven lesions were located in the supratentorial region. All lesions were single-channel fistulas associated with venous varix. Five lesions had a single feeder, and 3 had multiple feeders. All lesions were obliterated completely in single-session embolization with no procedure-related complications. Two patients experienced symptomatic thrombosis of drainage venous system after embolization. One patient fully recovered on discharge, and another patient fully recovered after 8 months. With a mean clinical follow-up of 12.1 months, all patients were free of pretreatment symptoms. Follow-up angiograms revealed durable occlusion of fistulas. CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial balloon-assisted glue embolization is a feasible and effective option for treatment of high-flow pial AVFs.

Pial fistula in infancy: Report of two cases and literature review with special emphasis on the ruptured group.

Cerebral pial fistula is a rare vascular pathology with no more than 150 cases reported. Most cases reported in infancy have been published as case reports. Owing to its high flow, its occurrence in this age group carries the potential risk of heart failure, chronic venous hypertension, seizures and, less frequently, cerebral haemorrhage. We present two cases of pial fistulae in infancy treated by endovascular embolisation using N-butyl cyanoacrylate. A review of the English-language literature was performed for this age group with special emphasis on ruptured cases.

Arterioportal shunt incidental to treatment with oxaliplatin that mimics recurrent gastric cancer.

Arterioportal shunt (APS) is an organic communication between the hepatic arterial system and the portal venous system. The APS is one of the major causes of transient hepatic attenuation differences on dynamic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This condition is usually associated with trauma, liver cirrhosis, and malignancies of the liver. However, there has been no report about oxaliplatin-induced APS. A 41-year-old male was diagnosed with Stage IIIB gastric cancer. The patient initially underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin After 3 cycles of therapy, the mass had markedly decreased, and a total gastrectomy with splenectomy was performed. Since the malignancy was locally invasive, the patient was continued on the same regimen of the adjuvant chemotherapy. After 3 more cycles, a computed tomography revealed a 1 cm sized arterial-enhancing nodule in the right lobe of the liver. An MRI revealed an arterial enhancing lesion, and a positron emission tomography CT scan showed a hypermetabolic lesion in the same portion of the liver. We tried to perform a liver biopsy; however, an ultrasonography could not detect any mass. A presumptive diagnosis of an APS due to a recurred cancer was made. We found a similar but slightly different case report of an oxaliplatin-induced liver injury, mimicking a metastatic tumor on an MRI. Based on a prior report, the patient was continued on treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy following discontinuation of oxaliplatin. After 2 cycles, the arterial enhancing liver mass resolved, supporting the final diagnosis of an APS, related to oxaliplatin-induced sinusoidal injury. The patient has not experienced any a relapse after two years of additional follow up recurrent gastric cancer upon interpretation of multiple imaging modalities.

Endovascular occlusion of pial arteriovenous macrofistulae, using pCANvas1 and adenosine-induced asystole to control nBCA injection.

Background In large-caliber pial macrofistulae (pMF), the combination of high blood flow velocity and large efferent artery diameter makes control over the endovascular vessel occlusion difficult and may result in the inadvertent venous passage of occlusive devices or embolic agents. Case descriptions Patient 1: A 27-year-old man presented with headache and ataxia. An infratentorial pMF supplied by both superior cerebellar arteries with venous ectasia was found. The first treatment attempt using balloons and coils failed since the position of either device could not be controlled because of a distal diameter of the feeding artery of 8 mm. In a second session a pCANvas1 (phenox) was deployed at the level of the arteriovenous connection and adenosine-induced asystole allowed the controlled injection of nBCA/Lipiodol with partial occlusion of the pMF. A remaining arteriovenous shunt was occluded under asystole in a third session. The procedures were well tolerated, the patient returned to normal and DSA confirmed the occlusion of the fistula. Patient 2: A 13-year-old boy with hereditary hemorrhagic teleangiectasia presented with an intracerebral hemorrhage from an aneurysm of the left MCA. Twelve weeks after the aneurysm treatment a feeding MCA branch (diameter 4.5 mm) of a right frontal pMF was catheterized. The macrofistula was occluded by deployment of a pCANvas1, followed by the injection of nBCAl/Lipiodol under adenosine-induced asystole. Conclusion pCANvas1 and adenosine-induced asystole allow a controlled injection of nBCA/Lipiodol for the endovascular occlusion of high-flow pMF without venous passage of the embolic agent.

Descripción de una serie hospitalaria de pacientes con fístula espinal / Description of a series of hospital patients with a spinal fistula

Introducción. Aunque las fístulas espinales suponen el 70% de las malformaciones arteriovenosas espinales, son una entidad infradiagnosticada. El shunt arteriovenoso produce una congestión vascular que da lugar a una mielopatía progresiva, en ocasiones irreversible si no se trata de forma precoz. Objetivo. Describir las características clinicorradiológicas de una serie de pacientes con fístula espinal. Pacientes y métodos. Se realizó una búsqueda retrospectiva de pacientes con diagnóstico de fístula espinal ingresados en el área de neurociencias de un hospital de tercer nivel asistencial. Resultados. Se identificaron 19 pacientes (7 mujeres y 12 varones) con una edad media de 56 años. La fístula espinal fue de tipo I en un 79% de los pacientes y la localización dorsal fue la más frecuente. La mayoría de los casos presentó un curso progresivo (90%). Un 74% de los pacientes se diagnosticó mediante resonancia magnética. En cuatro casos fue necesaria la realización de una angiografía para llegar al diagnóstico, y en uno de ellos se precisó una biopsia intraoperatoria. Se realizaron tres punciones lumbares, en dos de las cuales se objetivó pleocitosis linfocitaria e hiperproteinorraquia. El retraso diagnóstico medio fue de nueve meses. Se trató a un 79% de los pacientes, y de ellos sólo mejoró el 10%. Conclusiones. Ante una clínica sugestiva de fístula espinal, debe realizarse una angiografía espinal diagnóstica aunque el paciente estudiado pueda presentar características licuorales atípicas y normalidad en la resonancia magnética medular (AU)

Introduction. Although spinal fistulas account for 70% of all spinal arteriovenous malformations, they are an underdiagnosed condition. The arteriovenous shunt produces vascular congestion that gives rise to a progressive myelopathy, sometimes irreversible if it is not treated in the early stages. Aim. To describe the clinicoradiological characteristics of a series of patients with spinal fistulas. Patients and methods. A retrospective search was conducted for patients diagnosed with a spinal fistula who were hospitalised in the neuroscience area of a tertiary care hospital. Results. A total of 19 patients (7 females and 12 males) were identified, with a mean age of 56 years. The spinal fistula was type I in 79% of patients, and a dorsal location was the most frequent. Most of the cases (90%) presented a progressive course. Magnetic resonance imaging was used in the diagnosis in 74% of the patients. In four cases angiography was required to reach a diagnosis, and in one of them it was necessary to perform an intraoperative biopsy. Three lumbar punctures were performed, two of which revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis and high protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid. The average diagnostic delay was nine months. Seventy-nine per cent of the patients were treated and only 10% of them improved. Conclusions. When faced with a clinical picture suggestive of a spinal fistula, a diagnostic spinal angiography must be carried out, although the patient under study may present atypical cerebrospinal fluid characteristics and normal results in magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord (AU)

INFLUENCE OF TYPE OF ANESTHESIA ON HEMODYNAMIC PARAMETERS AND OUTCOME OF DIALYSIS ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA OPERATIONS.

The goal of the study was to compare effectiveness of regional and local anesthesia in dialysis arterio-venous fistula (AVF) operations. It was a prospective, randomized study. 103 patients with end stage renal disease underwent AVF operations on upper limb. The patients have been randomly divided in two groups. Group I: 49 patients in whom the operations have been done under the local anesthesia; and Group II: 54 patients in whom the operation has been performed under the vertical infraclavicular block. Duplex sonography evaluation of upper arm vessels was performed pre-operatively and at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Following parameters were measured on duplex scan: vessel diameter, blood flow rates (PSV and EDV), resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). Significantly less number of patients with regional anesthesia required additional perioperative analgesics as compared with the local anesthesia group. Time to postoperative pain initiation, need for postoperative pain killers was significantly better in Group II as compared with the Group I. Duration of operation was significantly less in regional as compared with local anesthesia. Postoperative PSV and EDVs were negatively correlated with patient age. The fistula maturation time was positively correlated with age. The vein diameter, postoperative PSV and EDV have been significantly increased in Group I as compared with Group II. The postoperative PI has significantly increased and RI has significantly decreased in Group I as compared with Group II. The total number of dialysis punctures was higher in regional as compared with the local anesthesia. Regional anesthesia provides significantly better analgesia as compared with the local anesthesia in AVF operations. It significantly improves the duplex sonography parameters after AVF formation. It can be a method of choice for some forms of fistulas.

Dural arteriovenous fistula (D-AVF): a rare cause of symmetrical bithalamic changes with free diffusivity changes.

We report a rare case of an encephalopathic presentation of a posterior fossa dural arteriovenous fistula with concomitant florid symmetrical bithalamic free diffusivity changes on MRI in a previously healthy individual. We describe the structural and functional imaging findings and the role of catheter angiography in diagnosis, prognostication and the timing and strategy in the management of this challenging vascular entity.

Acupuncture-induced popliteal arteriovenous fistula successfully treated with percutaneous endovascular intervention.

A 39-year-old female visited our cardiovascular outpatient department with paresthesia and soreness around the right popliteal fossa, where thrill was palpable. There was no history of trauma, apart from her having undergone acupuncture several years previously. An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was diagnosed by vascular ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Angiography confirmed the presence of an AVF fed by the medial geniculate artery. Transarterial embolization was performed to close the AVF using coils and tissue adhesive. To the best of our knowledge, acupuncture-induced AVF has not been previously reported. We present a case demonstrating the merits of percutaneous endovascular intervention for treating this rare complication. The additional administration of a tissue adhesive can achieve complete closure of the AVF in the event of an unsatisfactory result following coil embolization. Doctors should be aware of the potential vascular complications of acupuncture, and of the management options.

Thalamic and basal ganglia arteriovenous malformations: redefining "inoperable".

Deep arteriovenous malformations of the basal ganglia and thalamus have an aggressive natural history and present a therapeutic challenge. More often than not, these lesions are deemed "inoperable" and are treated expectantly or with stereotactic radiosurgery. In some cases, clinical details combined with an opportune route of access dictate surgical resection. History of hemorrhage, small lesion size, and deep venous drainage each add to the aggressive natural history of these malformations. Interestingly, these same factors can point toward surgery. We present a discussion of the microsurgical techniques involved in managing these lesions, with an emphasis on situations that allow these lesions to be approached surgically.

[Intrahepatic transtumoral arteriovenous fistulae (diagnosis, importance, therapeutic proposals)]. / Fístulas arteriovenosas intra-hepáticas transtumorais (diagnóstico, importância e propostas de tratamento).

The authors present the angiographic aspects of four patients having an arteriovenous transhepatic transtumoral fistula (two arterioportal and two arteriovenous). The angiographic results of the occlusion with cyanoacrylate (Hystoacryl) of the right hepatic artery in one and by the infusion of Lipiodol in two are also shown. The physiopathological characteristics of each kind of fistula are discussed and the consequences of the passage of the quimioembolizing mixture through the tumor, regarding intrahepatic abscess formation, irregular clinical results and pulmonary complications are commented. These complications make the diagnosis of a transtumoral transhepatic arteriovenous fistula, previously to the chemoembolic treatment important, even though being frequently difficult, because of the reduced caliber of the feeding artery and eventual low transfistular bloodflow. The efficient occlusion of the arterioportal fistula with Histoacryl was favourably compared to the infusion of Lipiodol, which was unable to occlude the arteriovenous fistula. The contraindication to perform chemoembolic treatment of hepatic tumors, when an intrahepatic transtumoral arteriovenous fistula is present and the embolization of the fistular feeding artery is stressed. Ultrasonography using color Doppler and sono-enhancing contrast is appointed as the ideal non-invasive means of making the diagnosis of an hepatic transtumoral fistula and makes it eligible to be the first test in the algorithm for the appraisal of hepatic tumors.

Hepatic vascular side effects of styrene maleic acid neocarzinostatin in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Styrene-maleic acid neocarzinostatin (SMANCS) sometimes causes hepatic vascular side effects, including arterial stricture, obstruction, and arterio-portal shunt. A total of 128 intra-arterial SMANCS injection treatments, performed for 89 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, were analyzed to determine the relationship between angiographic findings and subsequent hepatic vascular injuries. After SMANCS therapy, hepatic arterial stricture or obstruction occurred in 5 patients (5/128; 3.9%), arterio-portal shunting in 12 (12/128; 9.4%), liver shrinkage in 4 (4/128; 3.1%), and cholangitis or biloma in 2 (2/128; 1.6%). Among 23 patients whose plain abdominal X-ray films just after SMANCS injection showed Lipiodol retention in the hepatic artery, 5 patients developed arterial obstruction, 10 developed arterio-portal shunt, and 2, cholangitis or biloma. Among 26 patients with Lipiodol retention in the portal vein, 4 developed hepatic lobe atrophy with aggravation of liver function. Among 3 patients with Lipiodol retention in both the hepatic artery and the portal vein, 1 developed arterio-portal shunt. In 76 treatments without excessive Lipiodol retention, only 1 of the patients developed arterio-portal shunt. Excessive retention of Lipiodol in hepatic vascular beds just after SMANCS therapy was significantly associated with future vascular side effects (22/52 vs 1/76; P < 0.0001). Lipiodol retention in arteries just after SMANCS injection was closely associated with subsequent arterial obstruction or arterio-portal shunt, and Lipiodol retention in the portal vein was related to subsequent hepatic lobe atrophy.

Iodized oil retention due to postbiopsy arterioportal shunt: a false positive lesion in the investigation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Iodized-oil computed tomography (CT) is useful for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, but there may be false-positive results in patients who have undergone some percutaneous transhepatic interventional procedures. The purpose of the present study was to verify the correlation between subsegmental hepatic parenchymal retention of iodized oil on CT and the arterioportal shunt caused by liver biopsy. METHODS: Iodized-oil CT scans were reviewed in 24 patients with hepatic tumors who had liver biopsy and subsequent iodized oil chemoembolization. Iodized oil chemoembolization was performed shortly after biopsy (1-10 days; mean = 2.6 days). The results were correlated with hepatic arteriography, with a special emphasis on the presence of hepatic arterioportal shunt. RESULTS: Wedge-shaped subsegmental retention of iodized oil along or adjacent to the biopsy needle path was observed in iodized-oil CT in 17 of the 24 patients. In three patients, there was subsegmental enhancement on prebiopsy helical dynamic liver CT at the same area of iodized oil retention, and therefore iodized oil retention was considered to be due to hepatocellular carcinoma. In the remaining 13 (54%) patients, the peripheral iodized oil retention was considered to be due to biopsy-induced arterioportal shunt. In all these patients, arterioportal shunt was confirmed by hepatic arteriography. CONCLUSION: Wedge-shaped hepatic parenchymal retention of iodized oil is commonly observed in iodized-oil CT due to biopsy-induced arterioportal shunt, and this appearance should not be confused with a hepatocellular carcinoma.

Small arterial-portal venous shunts: a cause of pseudolesions at hepatic imaging.

PURPOSE: To compare hepatic angiographic findings of small arterial-portal venous shunts with those of other imaging modalities, and to determine whether these shunts are related to hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At hepatic angiography in 223 patients, small arterial-portal venous shunts not directly related to hepatocellular carcinoma and focal areas of parenchymal contrast material enhancement more than 1 cm in diameter were found in 28 patients. These 28 patients were prospectively evaluated with computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP) (n = 12), CT after iodized oil administration (n = 23), intraoperative ultrasonography (n = 5), or follow-up hepatic angiography (n = 13). Magnetic resonance (MR) images (n = 10) and dynamic CT scans (n = 4) in these patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Arterial-portal venous shunts noted at angiography manifested as perfusion defects at CTAP in 10 patients and as an area of arterial contrast enhancement at dynamic CT in three patients. No lesion was seen at MR imaging, and no persistent iodized oil uptake was seen at CT. There was no evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma tumor growth around the shunts at follow-up angiography, and no tumor was present at surgery. CONCLUSION: Understanding of the hemodynamic changes caused by these small shunts can aid in the interpretation of vascular imaging findings.