Dandy-Walker syndrome

Frantisek Grochal, MD1; Karol Plank, Doc., MD2

1. Femicare, Center of prenatal ultrasonographic diagnostics, Martin, Slovak republic. Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Faculty of Health Care, Ruzomberok, Slovak Republic
2. 1. gyn. pôr. klinika LF SZU a Univerzitná nemocnica Bratislava, Kramáre; Slovak Republic.

Case report

A 27-year-old woman was sent to our unit at 16 weeks of gestation due to dilated cerebral ventricles. Our ultrasonographic examination revealed the following findings:

- dilatation of the lateral cerebral ventricles, third and fourth cerebral ventricle;
- agenesis vermis cerebelli;
- agenesis of the corpus callosum.

The findings were consistent with the diagnosis of the Dandy-Walker syndrome. The parents opted for the termination of the pregnancy.

Images 1-9: 15 weeks and 4 days of gestation - Dandy-Walker syndrome; the images show series of sagittal and transverse 2D scans of the fetal head with dilatation of the lateral cerebral ventricles, third and fourth cerebral ventricle, and agenesis of the cerebellar vermis (CH - cerebellar hemispheres, 4V - fourth cerebral ventricle).

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Note the elevated tentorium typical for this anomaly.

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Images 10, 11, 12: 15 weeks and 4 days of gestation - Dandy-Walker syndrome; the images show corpus callosum agenesis with abnormal course of the pericallosal artery and its branches (images 11, 12).

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Images 13-19: 15 weeks and 4 days of gestation - Dandy Walker syndrome; the images show 3D imaging of the dilated cerebral ventricles using SonoAVC (Automated Volume Calculations) technique.

LV - lateral cerebral ventricle; 3V - third ventricle; 4V - fourth ventricle. Image 15 shows fusion of the 3D image obtained by the 3D AVC technique with a drawing depicting the location of the 3D structures within the fetal head.

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Images 20, 21, 22, and 23: 15 weeks and 4 days of gestation - Dandy Walker syndrome; the images show dorsal view on the fetal head using 3D HDlive imaging technique - cranial part of the head is cut away so as the intracranial structures were visible. The images demonstrate dilated cerebral ventricles (depicted in color on the images 22, 23).

LV - lateral cerebral ventricle; 3V - third ventricle; 4V - fourth ventricle; AS Sylvian aqueduct. 

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