Dandy-Walker continuum
Last revised by Ciléin Kearns on 26 May 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Di Muzio B, Kearns C, Rasuli B, et al. Dandy-Walker continuum. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Jun 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38193
Permalink:
rID:
38193
Article created:
9 Jul 2015,
Bruno Di Muzio ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Bruno Di Muzio had no recorded disclosures.
View Bruno Di Muzio's current disclosures
Last revised:
26 May 2024,
Ciléin Kearns
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Ciléin Kearns had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Ciléin Kearns's current disclosures
Revisions:
13 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Dandy Walker complex
- Dandy Walker spectrum
- Dandy Walker malformation complex
- Dandy-Walker continuum
- Dandy-Walker spectrum
- Dandy-Walker complex
- Dandy Walker malformation spectrum
- Dandy Walker malformation 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 are poorly understood, and the terminology is used variably, so a more detailed anatomic description is recommended for clarity 2.
Two systematic reviews have 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”)
Isolated inferior vermian hypoplasia (historically called Dandy-Walker variant)
References
- 1. Patel S, Barkovich AJ. Analysis and classification of cerebellar malformations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002;23 (7): 1074-87. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 2. Bosemani T, Orman G, Boltshauser E et-al. Congenital abnormalities of the posterior fossa. Radiographics. 2015;35 (1): 200-20. doi:10.1148/rg.351140038 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Kollias SS, Ball WS, Prenger EC. Cystic malformations of the posterior fossa: differential diagnosis clarified through embryologic analysis. Radiographics. 1993;13 (6): 1211-31. Radiographics (abstract) - Pubmed citation
- 4. Choudhri AF, Cohen HL, Siddiqui A, Pande V, Blitz AM. Twenty-Five Diagnoses on Midline Images of the Brain: From Fetus to Child to Adult. (2018) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 38 (1): 218-235. doi:10.1148/rg.2018170019 - Pubmed
- 5. Anja Wüest, Daniel Surbek, Roland Wiest, Christian Weisstanner, Harald Bonel, Maja Steinlin, Luigi Raio, Boris Tutschek. Enlarged posterior fossa on prenatal imaging: differential diagnosis, associated anomalies and postnatal outcome. (2017) Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 96 (7): 837. doi:10.1111/aogs.13131 - Pubmed
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- Blake's pouch cyst
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