Gamma surgery for vein of Galen malformations

The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of gamma surgery in nine patients treated for vein of Galen malformations (VGMs).

A consecutive series of nine VGMs in eight children aged 4 to 14 years and in one adult were treated with gamma surgery. Six of the patients were male, including the adult, and three were female. Among these patients there were three Yasargil Type I, one Type II, two Type III, and three Type IV malformations. Previous embolization had failed in four cases. Three VGMs were treated with gamma surgery twice. An additional patient with a Type III VGM underwent stereotactic angiography in preparation for gamma surgery but was judged to be suitable for direct embolization. Follow-up angiograms were obtained in eight of the VGMs treated. Four no longer filled; one has probably been obliterated, but this cannot be confirmed because the patient refused to undergo final angiography; one patient has residual fistulas not included in the initial treatment field, which were retreated recently; and two other patients have marked reduction of flow through their VGMs.

Gamma surgery is a viable option in the treatment of VGMs in clinically stable patients. Combined endovascular therapy and gamma surgery is of benefit in complex malformations.