A vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) is a rare but particularly serious type of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that develops before birth and is diagnosed in infants and young children. It affects the “great cerebral vein,” also known as the vein of Galen, which is one of the large veins that returns blood from the brain to the heart. The condition is sometimes referred to as a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM). A vein of Galen malformation can be fatal, but the prognosis has greatly improved with newer endovascular techniques performed by highly trained experts.
Like other AVMs, a vein of Galen malformation is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels that disrupts the usual flow of blood. In a patient with a vein of Galen malformation, some of the tiny capillaries that normally distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout the brain are missing. Since those capillaries intercept blood coming in from an artery and slow down the flow of blood back to the heart, when they’re missing or malformed the blood rushes into the vein of Galen with too much force and little resistance to flow.
This relative lack of resistance sometimes leads to overworking of the heart, with the potential of heart failure. The increased blood flow into the veins can also disrupt the normal balance between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production and absorption, resulting in hydrocephalus. Other complications might include brain dysfunction, with developmental delay, spontaneous bleeding in the brain, or seizures.
When a vein of Galen malformation is apparent on a prenatal ultrasound or at birth, the condition is usually more serious and has a higher likelihood of heart failure. Older babies and children found to have the condition have a more optimistic prognosis, with mild or moderate neurological impairment and manageable symptoms.
What Causes a Vein of Galen Malformation?
A vein of Galen malformation develops in a fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy for reasons that are not clear, but it is likely to be genetic in origin. Regardless of the cause, familial transmission or inheritance does not happen. It can sometimes be seen on an ultrasound later in the pregnancy, but it’s more commonly diagnosed in a newborn or young child. (See Diagnosing and Treating a Vein of Galen Malformation.)
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Reviewed by: Srikanth Boddu, MD, MSc
Last reviewed/updated: September 2023
Illustration by Thom Graves, CMI
