Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAM) are rare intracranial vascular anomalies typically found in children. The anatomic landmark of a VGAM is the presence of multiple arteriovenous shunts draining into a dilated median prosencephalic vein, an embryonic vessel normally absent at the adult stage. This article reviews the developmental anatomy, the clinical presentation, and the current management of VGAM.

No abstract

Renal transplant biopsies to diagnose transplant pathology are routinely performed using ultrasound guidance. Few large studies have assessed the rate and risk factors of major biopsy complications. This study is a single-center 5-year retrospective cohort analysis of 2514 biopsies. Major complications occurred in 47 of 2514 patients (1.9%) and included hospitalization, transfusion of blood products, operative exploration and interventional radiology procedures. The complication rate among "cause" biopsies was significantly higher than in "protocol" biopsies (2.7% vs. 0.33%, p < 0.001). Complications presented on postbiopsy days 0-14, with the majority diagnosed on the same day as the biopsy and manifested by hematocrit drop, although the presence of such delayed presentation of complications occurring >24 h after the biopsy on days 2-14 is previously unreported. Specific patient characteristics associated with increased risk of a complication were increased age and blood urea nitrogen, decreased platelet count, history of prior renal transplant, deceased donor transplant type and use of anticoagulant medications but not aspirin.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:A certain number of anatomic variants involving the distal vertebral artery (VA) are explained by variations in size and connection of the lateral spinal artery (LSA). This study examined the possible role of another branch of the VA, the posterior spinal artery (PSA), in the development of similar vascular variations.