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carotid-cavernous fistula

Etiology: - blunt head injury Pathology: - a fistula joining the internal carotid artery with the cavernous sinus - impaired drainage of the cavernous sinus - engorgement of the draining veins Clinical manifestations: - patients often complain of a swishing sound in their ear - a bruit may be heard with a stethoscope over the temple - chemosis, pulsating proptosis, & an ulcerated cornea (case report [2]) due to congestion of ophthalmic vein Management: - endovascular coiling of the fistula

Related

cavernous sinus (parasellar sinus) internal carotid artery (ICA)

General

fistula cerebral arteriovenous malformation (cerebral AVM, intracranial AVM)

References

  1. Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society, 5th edition, 2002-2004
  2. Venkataramaiah S, Sriganesh K Images in clinical medicine. Carotid Cavernous Fistula N Engl J Med 2014; 371:1832. November 6, 2014 PMID: 25372091 http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1311966