Dandy-Walker syndrome is a rare brain deformity that happens before birth. It affects an area in the back of the brain that controls movement, thinking, and behavior. It also causes a buildup of fluid in ventricles (chambers) around it.
CerebellumCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Problems may be:
Children with this syndrome may also have other birth deformities of the brain, heart, face, or limbs.
The doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done.
Images may be taken of the brain. This can be done with:
There is no cure. The goal is to manage symptoms. This can be done with physical therapy and education services.
The buildup of fluid in the ventricles may need to be treated. Extra fluid can cause pressure and swelling in the brain. Fluid may be drained by:
Genetics Home Reference
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation
http://www.cnsfederation.org
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Dandy-Walker malformation. Genetics Home Reference—National Institutes of Health website. Available at: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/dandy-walker-malformation. Updated October 2015. Accessed April 14, 2020.
Dandy-Walker malformation. National Organization for Rare Disorders website. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/dandy-walker-malformation/. Published 2008. Accessed April 14, 2020.
Dandy Walker syndrome. BrainFacts.org—Society for Neuroscience website. Available at: https://www.brainfacts.org/diseases-and-disorders/neurological-disorders-az/diseases-a-to-z-from-ninds/dandy-walker-syndrome. Accessed April 14, 2020.
Dandy-Walker syndrome information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Dandy-Walker-Syndrome-Information-Page. Updated March 27, 2019. Accessed April 14, 2020.
Hydrocephalus in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hydrocephalus-in-children. Updated December 4, 2018. Accessed April 14, 2020.
Kahle KT, Kulkarni AV, et al. Hydrocephalus in children. Lancet. 2016 Feb 20;387(10020):788-799.
Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD