Summary
This is a report of seven cases of aneurysm of the vein of Galen (AVG) with a review of the clinical and radiological aspects of 48 cases in the literature. The natural evolution and pathophysiology of this vascular malformation are discussed. The clinical signs of this condition are often misleading. The appearance of AVG on CT is pathognomic. Surveillance of the vascular malformation and associated cerebral lesions can be maintained with subsequent CT. Spontaneous thrombosis of the aneurysm was observed in three cases. The diagnosis of thrombosis of the AVG was always made at operation or by histological examination. The radiological appearance of a thrombosed aneurysm is typical.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amacher L, Shillito J (1973) The syndromes and surgical treatment of aneurysms of the great vein of Galen. J Neurosurg 39: 89–97
Bedford THB (1934) The great vein of Galen and the syndrome of increased intracranial pressure. Brain 57: 1–24
Boldrey E, Miller ER (1949) Arteriovenous fistula of the great vein of Galen and the circle of Willis: report on two patients treated by ligation. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 62: 778–783
Brown BJ, Alexander WJ (1967) Signes radiologiques de l'anévrysme arterioveineux de la grande veine de Galien. Ann Radiol 10: 165–170
Conforti P (1971) Spontaneous disappearance of cerebral arteriovenous angioma. J Neurosurg 34: 432–434
Cronquist S, Granholm I, Lundstrom NR (1972) Hydrocephalus and congestive heart failure caused by intracranial arteriovenous malformations in infants. J Neurosurg 36: 249–254
Decker K, Freislederer N (1957) Arteriovenöse Angiome des Gehirns im Kindesalter. Arch Kinderheilkd 155: 34–43
Eisenman J, Alekoumbides A, Pribram H (1972) Spontaneous thrombosis of vascular malformations of the brain. Acta Radiol 13: 77–85
Emery JL, Zachary RB (1956) Hydrocephalus associated with obliteration of the longitudinal sinus. Arch Dis Child 31: 288–292
Epps EF van, Perret G (1963) Neuroradiologic potpourri in infants and children. AJR 89: 938–940
Fisher G, Brunon J, Thierry A et al (1969) Thrombose au cours de l'évolution des anévrysmes artério-veineux cérébraux. J Med Lyon 50: 623–625
Francoeur J, Hendrick EB, Hoffman HJ (1967) Vein of Galen malformation in children (Abstract). Can Med Assoc J 97: 232
French LA, Peyton WT (1954) Vascular malformations in the region of the great vein of Galen. J Neurosurg 11: 488–498
Gibson JB, Taylor AR, Richardson AE (1959) Congenital arteriovenous fistula with an aneurysm of the great cerebral vein and hydrocephalus treated surgically. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 22: 224–228
Gold AP, Ransohoff J, Carter S (1964) Vein of Galen malformation. Acta Neurol Scand [Suppl] 40: 5–31
Gomez MR, Whitten CF, Nolke A et al (1963) Aneurysmal malformations of the great vein of Galen causing heart failure in early infancy. Pediatrics 31: 400–411
Gueroult de Flamesnil F (1970) L'anévrysme arterio-veineux de la veine de Galien. Thèse, Amiens
Heinz ER, Schwartz JF, Sears RA (1968) Thrombosis in the veins of Galen malformation. Br J Radiol 41: 424–428
Hernandez J, Schwartz HG, Goldring D (1965) Cerebral arteriovenous fistulas and congenital heart disease. J Pediatr 66: 722–728
Hirano A, Terry RD (1958) Aneurysm of the vein of Galen. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 17: 424–429
Hooper R (1961) Hydrocephalus and obstruction of the superior vena cava in infancy. Pediatrics 28: 792–799
Hook O, Johanson C (1958) Intracranial arteriovenous aneurysms. A follow-up study with particular attention to their growth. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 80: 39–54
Kinal ME (1962) Hydrocephalus and the dural venous sinuses. J Neurosurg 19: 195–201
Kushner J, Alexander E Jr (1970) Partial spontaneous regressive arteriovenous malformation. Case report with angiographic evidence. J Neurosurg 32: 360–366
Lagos JC, Riley HD (1971) Congenital intracranial malformations in children. Arch Dis Child 46: 285–290
Lehman JS, Chynn KY, Hagstrom JWC (1966) Heart failure in infancy due to arteriovenous malformation of the vein of Galen. AJR 98: 653–659
Litvak J, Yahr MD, Ransohoff J (1960) Aneurysms of the great vein of Galen and midline cerebral arteriovenous anomalies. J Neurosurg 17: 945–954
Lorber J (1967) Aneurysm of the great vein of Galen. Proc R Soc Med 60: 450–452
Lumsden CE (1947) A case of aneurysm of the vein of Galen. J Pathol Bact 59: 328–331
Macpherson P, Teasdale GM, Lindsay KW (1979) Computed tomography in diagnosis and management of aneurysm of the vein of Galen. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 42: 786–789
Norman MG, Becker LE (1974) Cerebral damage in neonates resulting from arteriovenous malformation of the vein of Galen. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 37: 252–258
Pampus F, Gott H, Kersting G (1969) Das Aneurysma der Vena galeni als Ursache des Hydrocephalus occlusus internus und apoplektischer Blutungen im Säuglings- und Kindesalter. Neurochirurgia (Stuttg) 3: 203–22
Petit-Dutaillis D, Guiot G, Berdet H (1953) Anevrysmes cirsoides et anevrysmes arterioveineux de l'encéphale, d'après 19 cas. Presse Med 61: 901–905
Perret G, Nishioka H (1966) An analysis of 545 cases of cranio-cerebral arteriovenous malformations and fistulas reported to the cooperative study. J Neurosurg 25: 467–490
Poppen JL, Arman N (1960) Aneurysm of the great vein of Galen. J Neurosurg 17: 238–244
Rosenberg AW (1955) A vascular malformation drained by the great vein of Galen. Bull Los Angeles Neurol Soc 20: 196–199
Rosman N, Shands KN (1978) Hydrocephalus caused by increased intracranial venous pressure: a clinicopathological study. Ann Neurol 3: 445–450
Russel DS, Nevin S (1940) Aneurysm of the great vein of Galen causing internal hydrocephalus: report of two cases. J Pathol Bact 51: 375–383
Sartor K (1978) Spontaneous closure of cerebral arteriovenous malformation demonstrated by angiography and computed tomography. Neuroradiology 15: 95–98
Stewart DR, Johnson DG, Myers GG (1975) Hydrocephalus as a complication of jugular catheterization during total parenteral nutrition. J Pediatr Surg 10: 771–777
Thomson JLG (1959) Aneurysm of the great vein of Galen. Br J Radiol 32: 640–684
Weir BKA, Allen PBR, Miller JDR (1968) Excision of thrombosed vein of Galen. Aneurysm in an infant. J Neurosurg 29: 619–622
Young LN, Wallace CT, Hood JB et al (1977) Radiological case of the month. Am J Dis Child 131: 581–582
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Diebler, C., Dulac, O., Renier, D. et al. Aneurysms of the vein of Galen in infants aged 2 to 15 months. Diagnosis and natural evolution. Neuroradiology 21, 185–197 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00367340
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00367340