Endovascular treatment of congenital arteriovenous fistulae of the internal maxillary artery

Congenital arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) of the internal maxillary artery (IMA) are rare. We present the angiographic findings and management of six AVF of the IMA, selected from 147 patients with facial vascular malformations. The fistula was thought to be congenital in all six in view of a life-long history, with no recorded trauma. Our analysis included angioarchitecture, treatment modality, embolic material, treatment results and follow-up. All patients had angiography showing an AVF originating from the IMA and draining to the jugular vein. Five patients underwent endovascular treatment with detachable balloons; a combination of Guglielmi detachable coils and N-acetyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) was used in one child. We successfully closed the AVF in all cases, without procedure-related complications, except for delayed transient facial numbness in one patient. No recurrence was observed on follow-up of 5 months to 7 years (mean 44 months).