Cortical versus Pial Venous Drainage in Dural Arteriovenous Fistula

It is difficult to say that cortical venous reflux is directly related with intracerebral hemorrhage in dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) because the cortical vein anatomically exists in the subarachnoid space [1]. Hemorrhage is the most serious event in cranial DAVF. Cortical venous reflux (CVR) has been known as a prognostic risk factor for hemorrhage in cranial DAVF [2]. Hemorrhage risk is related to lesion location, sex and cortical venous reflux [3]. Venous drainage pattern, especially the presence of cortical venous reflux, is a significant factor predicting intracranial hemorrhage from DAVF [4]. Annual hemorrhage rate of cranial DAVF is about 5% when there is cortical venous reflux