Transcranial Doppler of a paradoxical brain embolism associated with a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1999 Nov-Dec;20(10):1881-4.

Abstract

We herein report the case of a patient who had paradoxical brain embolism owing to a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) who was diagnosed as having a right-to-left shunt by transcranial Doppler (TCD) with saline contrast medium. TCD with saline contrast medium failed to detect any high-intensity transient signals immediately after catheter embolization of the PAVF. Thus, TCD with saline contrast medium was useful for identifying the presence of a right-to-left shunt and for confirming that the shunt had been obliterated after endovascular treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arteriovenous Fistula / complications*
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / therapy
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Embolism, Paradoxical / diagnostic imaging*
  • Embolization, Therapeutic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Intracranial Embolism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung / blood supply*
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial*