Case Report

A newborn with Galen vein aneurysm

  • Cihan Meral
  • Ferhan Karademir
  • Mustafa Kul
  • Seçil Aydınöz
  • Selami Süleymanoğlu
  • Serkan Kemer
  • İsmail Göçmen

Received Date: 26.06.2009 Accepted Date: 06.12.2010 Gulhane Med J 2011;53(3):208-210

Galen vein aneurysm develops as a result of the presence of an arteriovenous fistula between choroidal branches of the cerebral artery and/or branches of the basilar artery and the dilated veins of the mesencephalon. Males and females are affected equally. Aneurysm of Galen vein malformation is the most common cerebrovascular malformation which is symptomatic in neonatal and infantile period. It typically causes a high-output congestive heart failure and presents with developmental delay, hydrocephalus and seizures. As a conclusion malformation of Galen vein causes progressive neurological defects due to its mass effect. Better clinical results may be achieved by using intrafistular occlusive substances in the treatment. In this paper a newborn with Galen vein aneurysm diagnosed antenatally and treated postnatally with the diagnoses of hyperdynamic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension at our clinic is presented as it is very rare.

Keywords: Malformation of Galen vein, hydrocephalus, hyperdynamic cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension