Arteriovenous Aneurysm of the Great Vein of Galen (An Autopsy Case Report)

Abstract

An autopsy case of Galen vein aneurysm is reported. This baby was born to a 25 year old primi parous mother after 38 weeks gestation. The pregnancy was uneventful throughout. The mother was working with adhesive of unidentified solvent for 8 hours everyday during her entire gestational period. The baby was edematous and developed marked cyanosis and respiratory difficulty immediately after birth. These symptoms became wOrse and lhe baby expired 3 hours after birth. Postmortem examination showed a marked cardiomegaly , marked venous engorgement of the neck. There was a large aneurysm of 2. 8cm in diameter in the great vein of Galen, and this was fed by pericallosal branch of anterior cerebral artery,central branches of middle cerebral artery, posterior temporal branches of the posterior cerebral artery, and left superior cerebellar artery branch. The entire draining system including straight sinus, transverse sinuses and jugular veins were markedly dilated. The brain showed hydrocephalus with thinning of cerebral mantle. However , no specific malformation other than vascular anomalies was note