OBJECTIVES: This report was designed to study the prognostic factors that affect the therapeutic results of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 97 patients who were treated for DAVF at our institute from January, 2000 to August, 2008. The DAVFs were usually located in four sites (cavernous sinus, transverse-sigmoid sinus, superior sagittal sinus and others). The diagnosis and the results of treatment were obtained by performing cerebral angiography. RESULTS: The most common location of DAVF was the cavernous sinus (59.4%) and the next most common location was the transverse-sigmoid sinus (30.2%). Borden classification type II (72.2%) was most common and the next most common was type I (18.6%). Cortical venous reflux was abundant in the transverse-sigmoid sinus DAVFs and superior sagittal sinus DAVFs. Complete obliteration was achieved in 52 cases (55.3%) of all the 94 treated cases and incomplete obliteration was achieved in 42 cases (44.7%). Complete obliteration of the DAVF was achieved for 66.7% of the cavernous sinus lesions and in 41.4% of the transverse-sigmoid sinus lesions. Repeated treatments due to partial obliteration or recanalization were done in 18 cases. CONCLUSION: Transverse-sigmoid sinus lesion and cortical venous reflux in a DAVF are closely related to the aggressive clinical features. Active treatment should be considered to treat these lesions. (ED note: some of this abstract was not clear and you need to check the revised abstract.)