Perinatal pseudocoarctation: echocardiographic findings in vein of Galen malformation.
OBJECTIVE
Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs) are rare congenital malformations thought to develop during weeks 6 to 11 of fetal life. Although they represent less than 1% of all cerebral vascular malformations, they constitute up to 30% of all pediatric vascular malformations. Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations cause high-output heart failure in the fetus and neonate secondary to the decreased resistance and high blood flow in the lesion. We describe 2 cases, 1 prenatal and 1 postnatal, in which unusual aortic Doppler flow patterns and substantial brachiocephalic vessel dilation contributed to the discovery of a VGAM.


METHODS
Echocardiographic findings associated with VGAM malformations in 2 cases are described.


RESULTS
Unusual Doppler flow patterns and substantial brachiocephalic vessel dilation were seen in both cases. Pseudocoarctation of the aorta was also noted in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The echocardiographic findings in fetal and neonatal VGAM may include pseudocoarctation of the aorta. Abnormal fetal cardiac findings should raise the practitioner's suspicion for cerebral malformations and vice versa.
Doyle
Nora M
NM
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, MSB 3.126, Houston, TX 77025, USA.
Mastrobattista
Joan M
JM
Thapar
Mohinder K
MK
Lantin-Hermoso
M Regina
MR
D000328:Adult; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal