A dural arteriovenous fistula detected during the chronic phase of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

A 47-year-old woman developed a headache and tinnitus in her right ear followed by sudden-onset left hemiparesis. She had no history of trauma or thrombophilia. Arteriography showed an occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus, and a stenosis of the right transverse sinus. She was treated with anticoagulants; thereafter her deficits and sinus thrombosis immediately improved. However, 7 months after the onset, she noticed tinnitus in her left ear. Arteriography showed a dural arteriovenous fistula extending from the left occipital artery to the left transverse and sigmoid sinus, but no recurrence of the cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. After manual compression of the left occipital artery was initiated, the tinnitus and dural arteriovenous fistula did not worsen. A dural arteriovenous fistula may be detected in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis during the chronic phase.