Dilated MMA sign in cDAVF and other arterial feeders on 3D TOF MRA

Among the varied causes of pulsatile tinnitus, the condition that can cause severe mortality and morbidity is a cranial dural arteriovenous fistula (cDAVF). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the dilated middle meningeal artery on three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography in cranial dural arteriovenous fistula and to identify other feeders that can aid in the detection of these lesions. Method: Magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography data of all patients with cranial dural arteriovenous fistula treated in a single tertiary referral center between 2007-2020 were included. The middle meningeal artery and other feeders recorded from digital subtraction angiography were assessed on magnetic resonance angiography.

The dilated middle meningeal artery sign is useful for identifying a cranial dural arteriovenous fistula. Dilatation of the occipital and ascending pharyngeal arteries and meningohypophyseal trunk should be assessed to facilitate the detection of a cranial dural arteriovenous fistula, particularly in the transverse-sigmoid and petrous regions.

The overall agreement between readers in identifying the dilated middle meningeal artery was substantial (κ = 0.878, 95% confidence interval: 0.775-0.982). The dilated middle meningeal artery indicated the presence of a cranial dural arteriovenous fistula with a sensitivity of 79.49% (95% confidence interval: 66.81-92.16), specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval: 100.00-100.00), and negative predictive value of 94.56% (95% confidence interval: 90.89-98.02). An area under the curve of 0.8341 was observed for the ipsilateral middle meningeal artery, with a sensitivity of 92.2% and a specificity of 75.0% at a cut-off of 0.30 mm for identifying a cranial dural arteriovenous fistula. Of 73 other feeders, the occipital, meningohypophyseal trunk, ascending pharyngeal, and posterior meningeal arteries contributed to a large proportion visualized on magnetic resonance angiography (83.6% (41/49)).