Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is one of the frequent manifestations of the disorder which is an inflammatory process due to fibroblast infiltration, fibroblast proliferation and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. Eye irritation, dryness, excessive tearing, visual blurring, diplopia, pain, visual loss, retroorbital discomfort are the symptoms and they can mimic carotid cavernous fistulas. Carotid...

PURPOSE To discuss the differences in angiographic findings between cases of spontaneous carotid cavernous fistula with and without the classical triad of symptoms (pulsating exophthalmos, bruit, and conjunctival chemosis). METHODS With CT, MR, and angiography, we examined 12 cases of spontaneous carotid cavernous fistula, five of whom presented only with cranial nerve palsies. RESULTS In t...

Four cases in which the diagnosis of carotid-cavernous fistula was made by using CT angiography are illustrated. The diagnosis was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography in all four instances. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the CT angiographic appearance of carotid-cavernous fistulas.

The use of detachable balloons for treating carotid cavernous sinus fistulas is increasing [1-6]. Its success requires exact localization of the fistula site, which may not always be possible with standard angiographic techniques [7]. Rapid opacification of the venous side of the fistula is apt to obscure the point of arteriovenous communication before it is precisely delineated . Rapid filming...

Carotid cavernous fistulae (CCF) are defined as abnormal connections between the carotid circulation and cavernous sinus. CCFs can be categorized as being direct or indirect. Direct CCFs are usually associated with trauma, whereas indirect CCFs are associated with revascularization following cavernous sinus thrombosis. We present a case of a 53-year-old male who presented with tinnitus, proptos...

Detachable balloon embolization has become well established as the primary treatment for carotid cavernous fistulae, and numerous articles have been written on techniques for balloon placement in the cavernous sinus [1-3]. Recently, several case reports have described the use of angioplasty of the internal carotid artery for stenosis resulting from either fibromuscular dysplasia or arterioscler...

Fourteen patients with angiographically-proven carotid-cavernous fistulas were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). Unilateral or bilateral exophthalmos was noted in 12 patients. Slight blurring of the margin of the globe was present in two, presumably due to pulsations of the globe or conjunctival edema. Superior ophthalmic veins were prominent in 12 patients and were often larger on the sid...