Retrograde Flow Into the Internal Jugular Vein in a Hemodialysis Patient Mimicking Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: A Case Report

TL;DR

A hemodialysis patient showed imaging signs of a brain blood vessel issue, but it was actually due to a dialysis shunt causing reversed blood flow.

Contribution

This case highlights how hemodialysis shunts can mimic dural arteriovenous fistulas on imaging, avoiding misdiagnosis.

Findings

Retrograde flow from a radial shunt caused high signal intensity on ASL and TOF MRA, mimicking DAVF.

Digital subtraction angiography confirmed no DAVF but identified retrograde flow into the internal jugular vein.

High-flow shunts in hemodialysis patients may lead to intracranial hypertension and require careful monitoring.

Abstract

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) and three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are sensitive tools to detect dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF), but hyperintensity in these images is also caused by jugular venous reflux. We present a case of a patient with renal failure on hemodialysis with retrograde flow into the internal jugular vein (IJV) mimicking DAVF. A 74-year-old man with a radial arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis experienced transient dizziness. The TOF MRA and ASL revealed high signal intensity, suggesting the presence of a DAVF in the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses and the IJV. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed no evidence of a DAVF but showed retrograde flow into the IJV via his radial shunt. In hemodialysis patients, a high-flow shunt can cause fast retrograde flow into the dural sinuses and might lead to intracranial hypertension. The ASL images are useful for early detection and careful observation.

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