Diagnosis and Management of a Vein of Galen Malformation in a Neonate

Abstract

Vein of Galen arterial malformation (VGAM) is an arteriovenous malformation between cerebral vessels of the circle of Willis and the vein of Galen. VGAM is a direct communication between an artery and a vein resulting in increased cardiac output due to arterial blood flowing directly into a vein and returning directly to the heart, without traversing the full vascular system. If left untreated, it can result in heart failure, developmental disabilities, or death. The treatment of choice is endovascular embolization. Postembolization, these patients often require medical imaging follow-up. This is a case in which neonatal neurosonography was used to image the VGAM postembolization.