Anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistula presenting with left basal ganglia hemorrhage: A case report

Background

Anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistulas (ACF-dAVFs) usually drain into the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) via the cortical veins. More rarely, the ACF-dAVF drains posteriorly into the olfactory vein, which points deeply into the basal vein of Rosenthal.

Case presentation

Here, we report a previously unreported case of ACF-dAVF with basal ganglia hemorrhage as the clinical symptom, in which the fistula drained posteriorly into the straight sinus via the olfactory vein, the basal vein of Rosenthal and the Galen vein. Obstruction of the draining vein leads to the formation of a venous bulb in the mid-basal vein of Rosenthal, which eventually causes basal ganglia hemorrhage.

Conclusion

This case highlights the importance of careful consideration of ACF-dAVF draining posteriorly via the olfactory vein, which may lead to differential diagnosis of basal ganglia hemorrhage.