The significance of 3D power Doppler in prenatal diagnosis and the evaluation of the anatomical structure of vein of Galen aneurysmatic malformation: case report.

Prenatal diagnosis of vein of Galen aneurysmatic malformation (VGAM) is made with the use of color Doppler, while in B-mode it is seen as a centrally placed supratentorial cystic structure. 3D-power Doppler (3D-PD) is a method that enables precise visualization of the vascular anatomy of this complex malformation. In our case, VGAM was detected in the 33rd week of gestation with power Doppler, and the use of 3D-PD enabled better visualization of the angioarchitecture and detection of feeding and drainage vessels of aneurysmatic widening. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally with the use of MRI. A prenatal study of the angioarchitecture could have prognostic significance as well as being important in the therapeutic approach during the postnatal period.

[Arteriovenous malformations of the Galen vein: results of treatment].

UNLABELLED: We performed retrospective and prospective analysis of surgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations of vein of Galen. Since 1987 till 2009 90 patients were operated in Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute. Age varied between 1 month and 38 years, 69 patients were children below 10. The paper describes main techniques for early diagnosis of the disease, its manifestation depending on age and type of malformation, treatment modalities, early postoperative and follow-up results. Endovascular treatment was applied in 75 (83.3%) patients. Complications with persistent neurological deficit after endovascular occlusion were observed in 10 (16%) patients, 2 patients died shortly after surgery. CONCLUSION: endovascular surgery is the treatment of choice in arteriovenous malformations of vein of Galen; optimal age for endovascular procedure is 4-5 months; observation in asymptomatic course is ineffective.