Endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus due to aneurysm of the vein of Galen: case report and literature review

Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 2007 Oct;50(5):285-91. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-990294.

Abstract

Aneurysms of the vein of Galen are uncommon vascular malformations. They are most frequently seen in infants and children, leading to heart failure and hydrocephalus. Exceptionally, they are detected in adults. Several theories have been proposed to explain hydrocephalus in these patients: obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct, impaired absorption of CSF after subarachnoid hemorrhage, passive ex-vacuo mechanism, or thrombosis of an aneurysm. Hydrocephalus has been treated mainly with cerebrospinal shunt procedures, but also direct surgery, radiosurgery and embolisation of the malformation have proved to be effective. We report the case of a partially thrombosed ectasia of the vein of Galen in a 44-year-old male, with huge hydrocephalus successfully treated with an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calcinosis / complications
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Calcinosis / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Aqueduct / pathology
  • Cerebral Aqueduct / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Veins / pathology
  • Cerebral Veins / physiopathology
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Endoscopy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / etiology*
  • Hydrocephalus / physiopathology
  • Hydrocephalus / surgery*
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / complications*
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / etiology
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / physiopathology
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / complications
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / pathology
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / physiopathology
  • Lateral Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Lateral Ventricles / pathology
  • Lateral Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Paraparesis / etiology
  • Paraparesis / physiopathology
  • Radiography
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / complications
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / pathology
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / physiopathology
  • Third Ventricle / anatomy & histology
  • Third Ventricle / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vein of Galen Malformations / complications*
  • Vein of Galen Malformations / pathology
  • Vein of Galen Malformations / physiopathology
  • Ventriculostomy / instrumentation
  • Ventriculostomy / methods*