Acquired dural arteriovenous fistula after cerebellopontine angle meningioma: A case report.

RATIONALE: Intracranial brain surgeries, including ventriculostomy, burr hole, craniotomy, and craniectomy, are the most common causes of acquired dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF). Here we report a case of acquired dAVF after a cerebellopontine angle meningioma surgery.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 51-year-old woman was diagnosed with a 40-mm cerebellopontine angle meningioma. The patient underwent surgery via a retrosigmoid suboccipital approach. A small craniotomy and an additional craniectomy were performed. At 7 months after the surgery, she presented with pulsating tinnitus and headache.

DIAGNOSIS: Magnetic resonance imaging and digital subtraction angiography showed a dAVF that was fed by the occipital artery and drained into transverse and sigmoid sinuses.

INTERVENTIONS: We performed Onyx® (Irvine, CA) embolization.

OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms completely improved.

LESSONS: Craniectomy defects, partially exposed sinuses, and incomplete cranioplasty might be risk factors for iatrogenic dAVF after a retrosigmoid suboccipital craniotomy or craniectomy. Complete reconstructive cranioplasty is an essential procedure to prevent a direct connection between the venous sinus and the external carotid artery.