Journal List > Endocrinol Metab > v.26(4) > 1085912

Ha, Suk, Jo, Jung, Kim, Park, Kim, and Kim: Ophthalmopathy Induced by Bilateral Carotid Cavernous Fistula in a Patient with Graves' Disease

Abstract

Graves' disease (GD) can lead to specific eye afflictions including proptosis, periorbital swelling, conjunctival injection, chemosis, and opthalmoplegia, which then become a condition called Graves' ophthalmopathy or thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). A carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) is an abnormal vascular communication between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. The clinical signs of CCF are very similar to TAO and should be considered as a differential diagnosis of TAO. We would like to present an interesting case of a bilateral ophthalmopathy induced by CCF in a GD patient. A 54-year-old man with a 6-year history of GD presented with bilateral exophthalmos and conjunctival injection for two months. The orbital CT scan findings were consistent with CCF, and an angiography revealed bilateral CCF. He received a bilateral coil embolization for the CCF and his ophthalmic signs were immediately improved. We recommend orbital imaging to exclude other coexisting diseases in patients who are suspected of TAO, especially when the diagnosis is uncertain or when determining whether medical or surgical intervention is appropriate.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Ocular manifestations of the patient. A. Before embolization treatment, the patient presented bilateral proptosis, periorbital edema, conjunctival injection and chemosis. B. After embolization treatment, conjunctival injection and chemosis disappeared, bilateral proptosis was improved.
enm-26-335-g001
Fig. 2
Before embolization treatment. Orbital computed tomography revealed dilated left superior ophthalmic vein (white arrow, A) and dilated left cavernous sinus (Black arrow, B).
enm-26-335-g002
Fig. 3
Cerebral angiography. A. Before embolization treatment, anteroposterial projection, demonstrating the supply to the bilateral carotid cavernous fistula from both branches of external carotid artery and meningeal branches of internal carotid artery. B. Embolization was performed with venous approach at both cavernous sinuses and intercavernous sinus. C. After embolization treatment, anteroposterial projection, showing complete occlusion of bilateral carotid cavernous fistula.
enm-26-335-g003

References

1. Bartalena L, Tanda ML. Clinical practice. Graves' ophthalmopathy. N Engl J Med. 2009. 360:994–1001.
2. Burch HB, Wartofsky L. Graves' ophthalmopathy: current concepts regarding pathogenesis and management. Endocr Rev. 1993. 14:747–793.
3. Phatouros CC, Meyers PM, Dowd CF, Halbach VV, Malek AM, Higashida RT. Carotid artery cavernous fistulas. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2000. 11:67–84.
4. Barrow DL, Spector RH, Braun IF, Landman JA, Tindall SC, Tindall GT. Classification and treatment of spontaneous carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas. J Neurosurg. 1985. 62:248–256.
5. Kahaly GJ. Imaging in thyroid-associated orbitopathy. Eur J Endocrinol. 2001. 145:107–118.
6. Tellez M, Cooper J, Edmonds C. Graves' ophthalmopathy in relation to cigarette smoking and ethnic origin. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1992. 36:291–294.
7. Enzmann DR, Donaldson SS, Kriss JP. Appearance of Graves' disease on orbital computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1979. 3:815–819.
8. Phelps CD, Thompson HS, Ossoinig KC. The diagnosis and prognosis of atypical carotid-cavernous fistula (red-eyed shunt syndrome). Am J Ophthalmol. 1982. 93:423–436.
9. Loré F, Polito E, Cerase A, Bracco S, Loffredo A, Pichierri P, Talidis F. Carotid cavernous fistula in a patient with Graves' ophthalmopathy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003. 88:3487–3490.
10. Choi SR, Lee SJ, Lee HR, Kang JG, Ryu OH, Kim CS, Lee BW, Hong EG, Kim HK, Kim DM, Yoo JM, Ihm SH, Choi MG, Yoo HJ. A case of unilateral exophthalmos caused by a dural arteriovenous malformation in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. J Korean Endocr Soc. 2008. 23:51–55.
11. Haugen OH, Sletteberg O, Thomassen L, Kråkenes J. Bilateral non-traumatic carotid cavernous sinus fistula with spontaneous closure. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh). 1990. 68:743–747.
12. Ahn JH, Jung JH, Choi KD, Choi HY. The clinical characteristics and endovascular management outcomes of dural carotid cavernous fistulas. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2011. 52:332–337.
TOOLS
Similar articles