Long term follow-up of 43 pure dural arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) of the lateral sinus

Fourty-three patients with arterio-venous fistulae of the dura of the transverse sinus with a complaint of tinnitus are reviewed, with a follow-up of 12 months to 11 years. 34 patients were embolized, 2 treated surgically, and 7 were untreated. Embolization appears to have been beneficial. The benign nature of this abnormality must be emphasized, and serious psychological study of the patient must be made before deciding on therapy. (orig.)