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Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A Review

  • Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (D Leifer and JE Safdieh, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) are a rare pathologic entity with a diverse and often misleading clinical presentation. While digital subtraction spinal angiography remains the gold standard, recent advances in noninvasive vascular imaging have improved the diagnosis of SDAVF. As this condition can result in permanent spinal cord injury, all patients require treatment, which consists of surgical or endovascular occlusion of the fistula. Failure to recognize and treat SDAVF in a timely fashion can result in irreversible neurologic disability, including myelopathy, lower extremity weakness and bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction. This article reviews the clinical features, pathogenesis, radiographic features and current treatment strategies for these complex lesions.

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Conflicts of Interest

Joshua Marcus declares no conflicts of interest.

Justin Schwarz declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

I. Paul Singh declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Dimitri Sigounas declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Jared Knopman declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Y. Pierre Gobin declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Athos Patsalides declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Joshua Marcus, Justin Schwarz, I. Paul Singh, Dimitri Sigounas, Jared Knopman, Y. Pierre Gobin & Athos Patsalides

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  1. Joshua Marcus
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  2. Justin Schwarz
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  3. I. Paul Singh
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Correspondence to Joshua Marcus.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

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Marcus, J., Schwarz, J., Singh, I.P. et al. Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A Review. Curr Atheroscler Rep 15, 335 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-013-0335-7

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