Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of a vein of Galen aneurysm: relevance of associated malformations for timing and mode of delivery

Abstract

The term 'aneurysm of the vein of Galen' encompasses a range of different midline arteriovenous fistula malformations. Prenatal real-time and Doppler sonography can contribute to the differential diagnosis of fetal cerebral cystic lesions of various origins, pineal and choroid tumors, and intracerebral hematoma. Regardless of the type of treatment, perinatal morbidity and mortality are high, often due to cardiac failure. A case of spontaneous delivery at 36 weeks of gestation by a 30-year-old woman presenting with a fetal aneurysm of the vein of Galen is described. As the extrauterine cardiac function was normal and a steal phenomenon was not present, expectant management was justified. Five arterial embolizations within the following 4 years were performed as a means of treating the primary lesion. Our case illustrates the fact that elective spontaneous vaginal delivery followed by serial embolization is possible in cases of arteriovenous fistula malformation without signs of cardiac insufficiency.