THE USE OF NEUROIMAGING FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF GALEN'S ARTERIAL MALFORMATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW.

Abstract

The vein of Galen malformation (VGM) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly characterized by high-flow arteriovenous shunts that result in significant hemodynamic overload and potential neonatal heart failure. Neuroimaging plays a fundamental role not only in early diagnosis but also in therapeutic planning and longitudinal follow-up of these patients. This study conducted a literature review focusing on the main imaging modalities, prenatal and postnatal ultrasonography, computed tomography, CT angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and digital subtraction angiography, highlighting their applications, advantages, and limitations. The evidence analyzed shows that each method contributes complementarily to anatomical characterization, hemodynamic assessment, identification of complications, and determination of the endovascular approach. Thus, the careful integration of neuroimaging techniques is essential to optimize diagnosis, guide clinical decision-making, and improve the prognosis of patients with VGM.