Arteriovenous fistulas between the systemic circulation and the pulmonary artery are extremely rare. Continuous precordial murmur is the usual clinical sign while unilateral rib notching may be the only radiologic manifestation of this condition. Selective angiographic investigation is necessary to localize the site of such an arteriovenous (AV) fistula before surgery is performed. In a review of the literature of 15 published cases, the majority were of congenital origin, with four of these systemic-pulmonary AV fistulas of traumatic origin, of which one occurred after insertion of an intercostal catheter. We describe one case of traumatic origin 9 years after percutaneous thoracic drainage for spontaneous pneumothorax, in which transcatheter embolic occlusion of the feeding arteries of an AV fistula was attempted. The advantages and the disadvantages of the nonsurgical and surgical therapeutic approaches are discussed.

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[Malignant spinal hemangiopericytoma, with benign radiological appearance].

A spinal intra-dural and extra-medullary tumour is described, presenting both clinically and radiologically as a benign process. However, the pathological examination, helped by electron microscopy, concluded in favour of a malignant hemangiopericytoma. The clinical cause, after surgery and radiotherapy, confirmed this latter diagnosis.

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