Arteriovenous angioma of the vein of Galen causing cardiac failure in the neonate. Report on clinical and pathological findings in two cases.

Clinical details of two cases of arteriovenous angioma of the vein of Galen are presented. In one case a diffuse meningo-cerebral angiodysplasia was found at necropsy. Due to a large arteriovenous shunt both cases became apparent in the neonatal period by progressive and fatal heart failure as the main clinical feature. Increased head circumference and a loud cranial bruit suggested the final diagnosis. Improvement of diagnostic work-up by computerized axial tomography and two-dimensional ultrasound with less discomfort to the patient is emphasized.