Dural arteriovenous malformations of the ethmoidal region: report of two cases

Abstract

Dural arteriovenous malformations of the ethmoidal region are extremely rare. They are usually supplied by the ipsilateral anterior ethmoidal artery with contralateral contribution in about half of the cases. They are characterized by a fistulous nidus within the dura, and their progression seems to involve a retrograde leptomeningeal vascular stasis with formation of varices and venous aneurysms. They have more propensity to rupture than dural malformations in other locations. Two patients who presented with an acute frontal hemorrhage are reported.

Key Words:

• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• anterior ethmoidal artery
• arteriovenous malformation
• dural A VM