Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Mimicking a Brain Tumor on Methionine-positron Emission Tomography: A Case Report

Abstract

In this article, we report a case wherein a brain tumor was suspected based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings. We made an initial diagnosis of malignant brain tumor based on methionine-positron emission tomography (PET) findings, but the correct diagnosis was dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). The patient was a 45-year-old man with DAVF who developed headache. Methionine-PET imaging showed high methionine uptake in the lesion. Although the tumor was strongly suspected from the findings of methionine-PET, the diagnosis of DAVF could be made correctly only by interpreting digital subtraction angiography and computed tomographic angiography. The findings of methionine-PET, which is considered useful in the diagnosis and denial of brain tumors, made the diagnosis of DAVF more difficult. The increased uptake of methionine-PET in DAVF is an important finding because, to our knowledge, this study is the first to report such finding. The results of this study might be useful for differential diagnoses when the diagnosis is uncertain.

A Case of Craniocervical Junction Arteriovenous Fistulas with a Brainstem Mass Lesion on Imaging: Case Report and Literature Review

“…The nerve functions of the patient were restored after treatment [12]. Hanyu et al reported the case of a 45-year-old male with a headache and a final angiographic diagnosis of DAVF, although he was initially suspected of having brain malignancy based on the results of positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) and MRI [13]. These cases have some similarities.…”