Vein of Galen malformation in newborns and children: contemporary advances and future directions
- 1Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini , ,
- 2Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa , ,
- 3Neurointerventional Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School , , ,
Abstract
Background: Vein of Galen malformation is a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality from the fetal period through childhood. Advances in perinatal care, neuroimaging, endovascular therapy, and multidisciplinary management have improved survival and expanded therapeutic options, while generating new challenges in clinical strategies and long-term outcomes.
Objective: This review integrates evidence and expert perspectives presented during the II International Meeting on Vein of Galen Malformation in Newborns and Children, held in Camogli, Italy, in October 2025 and summarizes current advances, emerging developments, and priorities for research and clinical innovation.
Recent advances: Current developments include improved fetal and neonatal imaging, emerging prognostic biomarkers, fetal intervention, advances in endovascular treatment, and increasing understanding of underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms. Contemporary management increasingly integrates cardiovascular and neurological assessment, advanced neuroimaging, individualized endovascular strategies, and structured long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up. The development of a disease-specific registry reflects the growing impact of international collaboration.
Future directions: Major priorities include validation of risk-stratification tools, development of standardized imaging and neurodevelopmental biomarkers, refinement of fetal and neonatal interventions, improved understanding of disease biology, and multicenter data sharing. Family-centered care and standardized long-term outcome assessment should remain integral components of future VOGM research and clinical practice.
Conclusions: VOGM management is rapidly evolving from survival-focused treatment toward individualized, multidisciplinary care extending from fetal diagnosis through childhood and adulthood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and emerging developments in this field, while defining a multidisciplinary, internationally informed roadmap for future research.
Related
- Susceptibility to childhood sepsis, contemporary management, and future directions
- Reaching for the Exposome: Recent Advances and Future Directions for Understanding Environment-Brain-Cognition Links.
- Brain-computer interfaces in pediatric populations: research advances, application challenges, and future directions
- Color Science in Esthetic Dentistry: Contemporary Advances in Shade Selection, Optical Properties, and Restorative Integration.
- Antibody Discovery and Therapeutics in Spondyloarthritis: Recent Advances and Future Directions.
BibTeX
@article{buratti2026vein,
title = {{Vein of Galen malformation in newborns and children: contemporary advances and future directions}},
author = {Silvia Buratti and Andrea Rossi and Darren B. Orbach},
journal = {Frontiers in pediatrics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fped.2026.1996440},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720373},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Vein of Galen malformation in newborns and children: contemporary advances and future directions
AU - Silvia Buratti
AU - Andrea Rossi
AU - Darren B. Orbach
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in pediatrics
DO - 10.3389/fped.2026.1996440
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13720373
AB - Background: Vein of Galen malformation is a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality from the fetal period through childhood. Advances in perinatal care, neuroimaging, endovascular therapy, and multidisciplinary management have improved survival and expanded therapeutic options, while generating new challenges in clinical strategies and long-term outcomes. Objective: This review integrates evidence and expert perspectives presented during the II International Meeting on Vein of Galen Malformation in Newborns and Children, held in Camogli, Italy, in October 2025 and summarizes current advances, emerging developments, and priorities for research and clinical innovation. Recent advances: Current developments include improved fetal and neonatal imaging, emerging prognostic biomarkers, fetal intervention, advances in endovascular treatment, and increasing understanding of underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms. Contemporary management increasingly integrates cardiovascular and neurological assessment, advanced neuroimaging, individualized endovascular strategies, and structured long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up. The development of a disease-specific registry reflects the growing impact of international collaboration. Future directions: Major priorities include validation of risk-stratification tools, development of standardized imaging and neurodevelopmental biomarkers, refinement of fetal and neonatal interventions, improved understanding of disease biology, and multicenter data sharing. Family-centered care and standardized long-term outcome assessment should remain integral components of future VOGM research and clinical practice. Conclusions: VOGM management is rapidly evolving from survival-focused treatment toward individualized, multidisciplinary care extending from fetal diagnosis through childhood and adulthood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and emerging developments in this field, while defining a multidisciplinary, internationally informed roadmap for future research.
SN - 2296-2360
ER -