Dandy-Walker continuum

Dandy-Walker continuum, also referred to as Dandy-Walker spectrum or Dandy-Walker complex, corresponds to a group of disorders believed to represent a continuum spectrum of posterior fossa malformations, characterized by inferior vermian hypoplasia and incomplete formation of the fourth ventricle which communicates with a prominent posterior fossa CSF space ⁴. 

These conditions remain poorly understood, and the terminology is still controversial. Some authors recommend avoiding its use as there is a lack of specificity that may create some confusion. Instead, a more detailed anatomic description is recommended ².

Two systematic reviews suggested that the risk of abnormal postnatal functional outcome is high in Dandy-Walker malformation and low in Blake’s pouch cyst ⁵.

Conditions classically included under the term Dandy-Walker continuum include:

• Dandy-Walker malformation (“classic”)
• Dandy-Walker variant (old name, now called as Vermian hypoplasia)
  • isolated inferior vermian hypoplasia
• Blake’s pouch cyst
• fourth ventriculocoele