CAROTID-CAVERNOUS FISTULA; DIAGNOSIS WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING.

Dr. Krishna Kumar M.*

ABSTRACT

A carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is an abnormal communication between the venous cavernous sinus and the carotid artery. The fistula may occur spontaneously but usually occurs following some sort of head trauma. Patients with CCF generally present with varied complaints, including unilateral visual loss, proptosis, lid swelling, pulsatile tinnitus and/or diplopia. A triad of clinical findings has been described as exophthalmos, orbital bruit, and dilated conjunctival vessels. We report a 59 years old male, presenting with persistent redness & painless bulging of Right eye since two months, not relieved by medicines, provisionally diagnosed as CCF, referred for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation.

Keywords: Carotid-cavernous fistula, Dural AV fistula, Dural carotico-cavernous fistula, Endovascular treatment, Magnetic Resonance Angiography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging.