Diagnosis of a Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Involving the Superior Sagittal Sinus: The MMA Sign on Routine 3D-TOF MR Angiography

Background and Purpose: The main feeding artery of a dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) involving the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) is the middle meningeal artery (MMA). MMA extends continuously from the proximal part to SSS in DAVF involving SSS. It is possible to diagnose DAVF involving SSS by evaluating the proximal part of MMA on routine three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography (MRA). We termed the finding in an anteroposterior maximum intensity projection (MIP) image of routine MRA in which MMA was continuously visualized at the top of the imaging slab (the upper corpus callosum level) without tapering as the MMA sign. The purpose of the present study was to examine the frequency of the MMA sign on routine MRA in patients with DAVF involving SSS and control patients. Materials and Methods: Subjects comprised 18 patients with DAVF involving SSS confirmed by angiography and 871 control subjects who underwent routine MRA. The presence of the MMA sign was retrospectively evaluated using an anteroposterior MIP image of routine MRA in patients with DAVF involving SSS and control patients. Results: The MMA sign was observed in 17 of the 18 (94%) patients with DAVF involving SSS. In one patient with DAVF involving the posterior part of SSS without the MMA sign, the main feeding artery was the occipital artery, not MMA. The MMA sign was observed in 13 of the 871 (1.5%) control patients. Conclusion: The MMA sign on routine MRA is useful, suggesting DAVF involving SSS.