Congenital fistula of the dural carotid-cavernous sinus: case report and review of the literature.

The case of a 2-month-old boy with a congenital fistula of the dural carotid-cavernous sinus is presented. This is a rare vascular anomaly in infancy, and it may cause acute changes in vision. The child was initially followed up for 1 year to see if spontaneous thrombosis would occur. The symptoms persisted, however, and intravascular surgery using platinum coils was performed for closure. After treatment, the symptoms completely resolved. Literature pertaining to this anomaly has been reviewed with particular emphasis on dural fistulas of the cavernous, transverse, sigmoid, and straight sinuses in infancy.