Dandy-Walker Malformation

[bon007]

I have an 11 month-old son. He had an MRI last week and this was the result:
MRI results showed mild hypoplasia of both cerebellar vermis with an open communication of the postero-inferior fourth ventricle to the posterior fossa through an enlarged vallecula. There is normal migration of the gray-white matter in this age group. The rest of the ventricles and sulci are normal in shape and position. There is no evidence of mass, hematoma, or shift of the midline structures. There is no evidence of heterotropias or cortical dysplasia.

Impression:Dandy-Walker Malformation
           Normal myelination for the patient's stated age.

What are the implications of such findings? I tried reading abstracts on DWM but some of them do not match my son's development, e.g. hydrocephalus. Thank you very much for answering my queries...

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
Dandy-Walker syndrome (DWS), or Dandy-Walker complex, is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum and the fluid filled spaces around it. Most important feature of this syndrome is the partial or even complete absence of the part of the brain located between the two cerebellar hemispheres (cerebellar vermis). It manifests as enlargement of the fourth ventricle, the space containing cerebrospinal fluid between the medulla and the cerebellum, partial or complete absence of the cerebellar vermis, the posterior midline area of cerebellar cortex which coordinates the axial musculature, and cyst formation near the base of the skull internally. An increase in the size of the fluid spaces surrounding the brain as well as an increase in pressure may also be present. The syndrome can appear dramatically or may develop unnoticed.
Symptoms, which often occur in early infancy, include slower motor development and progressive enlargement of the skull. Other symptoms are bulging at the back of the skull, problems with the nerves controlling the eyes, face and neck, and breathing problems. The MRI findings match the features of the syndrome. Some clinical features may be absent in the initial stages. Please consult a neurologist for the treatment which may include shunt placement depending on the symptoms. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!

[nicole412]

my daughter has dandy walker she was born with it and also has a vp shunt that was placed when she was a month old

[nicole412]

my daughter has dandy walker m(born with) and a vp shunt that she has had since she was a month old

[bon007]

we need your comment pls