A Case of Extremely Rapid Progression in Foix-Alajouanine Syndrome

Abstract

Foix-Alajouanine syndrome is a rare cause of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula that can cause irreversible myelopathy and paraplegia if not treated promptly. The complex nature of this pathology often leads to missed or delayed diagnosis regardless of broad workups executed. We present a symptomatically classic Foix-Alajouanine 68-year-old patient with an accelerated progression reaching stages of severe myelopathy in less than a year. Even with endovascular intervention, our patient was unable to recover neurologically. Including appropriate spinal imaging early in the workup for Foix-Alajouanine syndrome is necessary to halt or treat this disease process.

Keywords: Digital subtraction angiography; Embolization; Foix-Alajouanine syndrome; Magnetic resonance imaging; Myelopathy; Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula.