Thrombosis in the vein of Galen malformation.

Abstract

Abstract A patient with complete thrombosis of a vein of Galen malformation is reported. The patient, an infant 5¾ months of age, presented with an enlarging head and had papilloedema. Left carotid arteriography demonstrated failure to opacify the internal cerebral vein and the vein of Galen. The straight sinus was deformed and the basilar vein assumed an abnormally low course consistent with a large posterior 3rd ventricle or tentorial incisural mass. Ventriculography demonstrated a posterior 3rd ventricular mass with a spherical configuration. Pre-operative diagnosis was pinealoma-teratoma involving the internal cerebral vein and the tentorial incisura. At surgery, a large bluish mass which was grossly consistent with teratoma was removed. Pathologically the mass was degenerated blood clot enclosed in a fibrous capsule with smooth muscle which was thought to be the internal cerebral vein and the vein of Galen. The infant had a transient hemiparesis which subsequently cleared. Post-operatively angiograph...