Dementia and Parkinsonism-a Rare Presentation of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae

Simultaneous Parkinsonism and Dementia as Initial Presentation of Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (IDAVFs) are abnormal vascular connections between dural arteries and various venous structures within the brain. IDAVFs, rarely present with parkinsonism and dementia concurrently, making this a unique and underexplored clinical scenario. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to comprehensively analyze cases of IDAVFs manifesting as both parkinsonism and dementia.

METHODS

We assessed databases from inception to September 18, 2023. We identified studies describing patients with IDAVFs initially presenting with dementia or parkinsonism. Inclusion criteria encompassed case reports and case series, while excluding review articles, guidelines, technical notes, comments, conference abstracts, and editorials.

RESULTS

The systematic search resulted in the initial screening of 383 studies, with 33 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Among these, 29 were case reports, often describing 3 or fewer patients. From the remaining 4 case series, data pertinent to patients presenting both parkinsonism and dementia were selectively extracted, yielding a total study population of 43 patients. The anatomical distribution of IDAVFs within this cohort was diverse, with the transverse and sigmoid sinuses being the most common locations. Although most of these patients received endovascular therapy, a few underwent microsurgical occlusion or combined surgical and endovascular treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

IDAVFs presenting with both parkinsonism and dementia represent a rare clinical entity. This systematic review provides valuable insights into the clinical characteristics, treatment options, and outcomes for such cases. However, additional research involving larger cohorts is essential to better comprehend the underlying mechanisms and establish standardized therapeutic guidelines.

Dural arteriovenous fistula and sinus thrombosis presenting as parkinsonism and dementia: a case report with literature review

Introduction

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is an uncommon malformation involving an abnormal connection between dural arteries, or the pachymeningeal branches of cerebral arteries, and dural veins. Its exact pathogenesis remains elusive. Known potential triggers for DAVF include cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), trauma, ear infections, and cranial surgeries. Due to its rarity and diverse clinical presentations, diagnosing DAVF can be a challenge.

Case description

We present a case of DAVF associated with CVST, manifesting as rapidly advancing parkinsonism accompanied by dementia over a month. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral symmetric T2 hyperintensities in the basal ganglia and brain stem. Cerebral angiography further confirmed a fistula between the torcular herophili and the transverse-sigmoid sinuses. Despite strong recommendations for transvenous embolization of the fistula, the patient declined the procedure. The anticoagulant therapy and symptomatic treatments administered did not yield any improvement in the patient's condition. Additionally, we reviewed 27 DAVF-derived parkinsonism and dementia cases.

Conclusion

DAVF must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases of rapidly progressive parkinsonism with concurrent dementia. Given its potential for treatment and reversibility, timely diagnosis and intervention for DAVF are paramount.

Reversible Dementia With Bilateral White Matter Changes Caused by Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: Case Report and Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is a vascular malformation. Although rare, DAVFs can represent a potentially reversible cause of dementia. Bilateral white matter changes can be detected on the magnetic resonance imaging of patients with DAVFs. Familiarity with symptoms of DAVFs can reduce the incidence of misdiagnosis of dementia syndrome. This study aimed to explore the clinical manifestation, imaging characteristics, and prognosis of dementia with bilateral white matter changes caused by DAVFs.

CASE REPORT

A 56-year-old man presented with memory deterioration, tinnitus, and weakness in both lower limbs for over 2 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed white matter signal changes in the bilateral ventricles and centrum semiovale, which manifested as low signal on T1-weighted imaging, high signal on T2-weighted imaging, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and diffusion-weighted imaging. Digital subtraction angiography revealed DAVFs along the lateral sinus. The patients' condition improved significantly after endovascular embolization of the DAVFs.

CONCLUSIONS

DAVFs presenting with dementia are rare and cases with bilateral white matter alterations can be easily misdiagnosed as other diseases. If the patient has dementia and bilateral alterations in the white matter, a DAVF should be considered. This type of dementia is reversible and may be associated with venous hypertension caused by arteriovenous fistulas. Early digital subtraction angiography is important to reduce misdiagnoses.

Neuroimaging Pearls from the MDS Congress Video Challenge. Part 2: Acquired Disorders

The MDS Video Challenge continues to be the one of most widely attended sessions at the International Congress. Although the primary focus of this event is the presentation of complex and challenging cases through videos, a number of cases over the years have also presented an unusual or important neuroimaging finding related to the case. We reviewed the previous Video Challenge cases and present here a selection of those cases which incorporated such imaging findings. We have compiled these "imaging pearls" into two anthologies. The first focuses on pearls where the underlying diagnosis was a genetic condition. This second anthology focuses on imaging pearls in cases where the underlying condition was acquired. For each case we present brief clinical details along with neuroimaging findings, the characteristic imaging findings of that disorder and, finally, the differential diagnosis for the imaging findings seen.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistula-Derived Parkinsonism Symptoms: A Case Report with Literature Review

Objective

Parkinsonism caused by dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is very rare, however, it is reversible by endovascular treatment. We herein report a case of parkinsonism caused by DAVF with review of previous literature.

Case Presentation

An 87-year-old woman with parkinsonism and dementia was admitted to our hospital with disturbance of consciousness and aggravated parkinsonism symptoms. Plain CT revealed low-density areas in the brainstem and left cerebellar peduncle. Magnetic resonance images revealed hyperintense lesions on FLAIR, which had elevated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, in the same lesion of plain CT. However, no edematous change was detected. CT angiograms revealed obstruction of the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Dilations of the left superior petrosal sinus, left petrosal vein, and pontine veins were also noted. A low-density area on plain CT had a contrast effect. Cerebral angiography revealed a DAVF involving the left transverse sinus and fed by the left occipital and left middle meningeal arteries. Transarterial embolization (TAE) with Onyx obliterated the DAVF, and parkinsonism symptoms gradually improved. We reviewed 21 DAVF-derived parkinsonism cases, most of which were treated by TAE. Recent cases were treated with Onyx. In many cases, parkinsonism improved after endovascular treatment.

Conclusion

DAVF-derived parkinsonism is rare but treatable by endovascular therapy. DAVF should be one of the differential diagnosis of the parkinsonisms.

Rapidly progressive dementia and Parkinsonism as the first symptoms of dural arteriovenous fistula. The Sapienza University experience and comprehensive literature review concerning the clinical course of 102 patients

BACKGROUND

Dementia is a chronic loss of neurocognitive function that is progressive and irreversible. Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are acquired lesions that account for 10-15% of intracranial vascular malformations that could present with a rapid decline in neurocognitive function with or without Parkinson-like symptoms and evolve in a rapidly progressive dementia (RPD). Often the DAVFs are not even included in the differential hypotheses of this type of dementia and are not present in any type of diagnostic algorithm for evaluating RPD.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the international literature and adding the cases coming from our institutional experience and we have collected all the reported cases of DAVFs that debut with ROD identifying the most frequent forms in terms of location and type, reporting the neurological characteristics and the outcome of each patient.

RESULTS

The exact pathogenesis for developing dementia in patients with DAVFs remains largely unknown. The imaging changes and pathologic findings support the hypothesis that the clinical course results from the delivery of excessive volumes of blood flow into a venous system with outflow obstruction and venous congestion. The large variety of clinical manifestations of DAVFs depends on its location but this is not exactly valid for the onset of dementia. It supposed that the highly variable clinical manifestation of DAVFs has been convincingly related to the pattern of venous drainage more than location.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurologists and clinicians generally are familiar with the differential diagnoses of slowly progressive neurodegenerative dementias, but the diagnosis of RPD entails a different diagnostic approach. Due to their curable nature, the diagnosis of DAVFs must be suspected when facing a RPD picture, even more so if it is associated with characteristic abnormalities of the hemispheric white matter.

Unusual cause of treatable Parkinsonism

A 78-year-old woman presented with features of bilateral, asymmetric Parkinsonism for 1 year, with prominent difficulties with continence, swallowing and apathy. Brain imaging showed evidence of chronic venous sinus thrombosis with dilated serpiginous vessels over the brain surface in keeping with a dural arteriovenous fistula, together with high T2 signal on MRI in the basal ganglia. Having responded only modestly to levodopa, she received 6 months of anticoagulation followed by embolisation of the dural arteriovenous fistula, with good response. Cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula is a rare, structural cause of atypical Parkinsonism.

Spontaneous Subdural Hematoma and Behavioral Changes Due to a Dural Arteriovenous Fistula. A Case Report and Literature Review

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) represent 10–15% of intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Of these, only 12–29% cause intracranial hemorrhage. The presentation of DAVF as a subdural hematoma (SDH) and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) is infrequent; additionally, behavioral changes are not common among these patients. We report, for the first time in our country, the case of a 23-year-old man with no history of head injury, in which a brain computed tomography (CT) scan revealed SDH and IPH with behavioral disturbances. The angiotomography showed ecstatic venous vessels, indicating the presence of a DAVF, which was later confirmed by cerebral angiography. Endovascular therapy, which followed the clinical diagnosis, resulted in satisfactory evolution two years after treatment. A review of the literature concerning cases with DAVF and behavioral disturbances is presented. DAVF may lead to cognitive impairment, behavioral changes, and dementia as a result of diffuse white matter and thalamus modifications related to venous ischemia, and it should be considered as a reversible cause of vascular dementia.

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.