A Right Thalamo-Choroidal Arterio-Venous Malformation and Associated Vein of Galen Aneurysm in a Female Adult

Vein of Galen aneurysm (VGAM) is a rare vascular malformation accounting for less than 1% of all intracranial abnormalities. In this case report, we performed computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations for a 26-year-old female patient who presented with a severe headache. On these images, a right thalamo-choroidal arterio-venous malformation (AVM) with secondary aneurysmal dilatation of the vein of Galen was suspected, and a CT angiography was performed for further evaluation, which confirmed the diagnosis. The patient refused digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and probable endovascular treatment. Although it is rarely seen in the adult population, CT and MRI have a tremendous impact on the diagnosis of these patients. We should also emphasize the role of CT angiography in the diagnosis and further evaluation of these vascular malformations. Endovascular therapy is regarded as an effective and safe technique in the treatment of these patients.

Vein of Galen Aneurysm: Prenatal Ultrasound Diagnosis

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Galen vein aneurysm– challenge for treatment

The term vein of Galen aneurysm is related to a group of different vascular anomalies, with one common distinction being the dilatation of the vein of Galen. It represents a rear vascular anomaly, whose incidence is yet unknown, although some authors suggest numbers around 1:25000 deliveries. It accounts for only 1% of all intracranial malformations, but the percentage of this anomaly in pediatric populations is up to 30%. In most cases the diagnosis is made postnatal, while antenatal diagnosis, because of the pathophysiology of aneurysm itself, as well as pathophysiology of its possible complications, is made usually during the third trimester, frequently after the 34th week of gestation. The earliest reported diagnosis was made at 25 weeks’ gestation. In this case we present 25-year old gravida, pregnancy at 28th week of gestation with aneurysm, and sonographically detected aneurysm of the vein of Galen, that ended with termination of pregnancy.