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Pediatrics112 papers

Dandy-Walker syndrome

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Dandy-Walker syndrome is a congenital brain malformation characterized by an enlarged posterior fossa due to incomplete development of the cerebellar vermis, often associated with cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle, and frequently accompanied by hydrocephalus and neurological deficits 9.

Diagnosis

  • Key Diagnostic Criteria:
  • - Enlarged posterior fossa on imaging (CT or MRI) - Absence or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis - Cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle - Possible presence of hydrocephalus
  • Recommended Tests:
  • - MRI or CT scan of the brain for definitive diagnosis - Lumbar puncture may be necessary to assess cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in cases of suspected hydrocephalus
  • Grading:
  • - Clinical and radiological findings are essential for diagnosis 9

    Management

  • First-Line Treatments:
  • - Surgical intervention for hydrocephalus (e.g., ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement) 9
  • Adjunctive Treatments:
  • - Physical therapy to address motor deficits - Occupational therapy to improve daily living skills - Speech therapy for communication difficulties - Regular follow-up with neurology and pediatric specialists to monitor development and manage complications

    Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Early intervention programs are crucial for optimizing developmental outcomes 9
  • Comorbidities: Management of associated conditions like seizures may require anticonvulsant therapy (e.g., valproate, levetiracetam) tailored to individual needs 9
  • Key Recommendations

  • Perform MRI or CT scans for definitive diagnosis of Dandy-Walker syndrome to assess cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and fourth ventricle abnormalities (Evidence: Strong 9)
  • Implement surgical interventions such as ventriculoperitoneal shunting for management of hydrocephalus (Evidence: Strong 9)
  • Provide multidisciplinary support including physical, occupational, and speech therapy to address developmental delays and functional impairments (Evidence: Moderate 9)
  • References

    1 Girirajan S, Vlangos CN, Szomju BB, Edelman E, Trevors CD, Dupuis L et al.. Genotype-phenotype correlation in Smith-Magenis syndrome: evidence that multiple genes in 17p11.2 contribute to the clinical spectrum. Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics 2006. link 2 Orrico A, Galli L, Zappella M, Orsi A, Hayek G. Additional case of Marden-Walker syndrome: support for the autosomal-recessive inheritance adn refinement of phenotype in a surviving patient. Journal of child neurology 2001. link 3 Garavelli L, Donadio A, Banchini G, Magnani C, Magnani C, Calzolari E et al.. Marden-Walker syndrome: case report, nosologic discussion and aspects of counseling. Genetic counseling (Geneva, Switzerland) 2000. link 4 Pfeiffer RA, Rinnert S, Popp R, Röckelein G. Asymmetrical coronal synostosis, cutaneous syndactyly of the fingers and toes, and jejunal atresia in a male infant. American journal of medical genetics 1996. link1096-8628(19960503)63:1<175::AID-AJMG30>3.0.CO;2-J) 5 Juyal RC, Greenberg F, Mengden GA, Lupski JR, Trask BJ, van den Engh G et al.. Smith-Magenis syndrome deletion: a case with equivocal cytogenetic findings resolved by fluorescence in situ hybridization. American journal of medical genetics 1995. link 6 Abrams S, Neubauer PB. Hartmann's vision. Identical twins and developmental organizations. The Psychoanalytic study of the child 1994. link 7 Williams MS, Josephson KD, Wargowski DS. Marden-Walker syndrome: a case report and a critical review of the literature. Clinical dysmorphology 1993. link 8 Zori RT, Lupski JR, Heju Z, Greenberg F, Killian JM, Gray BA et al.. Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular evidence for an infant with Smith-Magenis syndrome born from a mother having a mosaic 17p11.2p12 deletion. American journal of medical genetics 1993. link 9 García-Alix A, Blanco D, Cabañas F, Garcia Sanchez P, Pellicer A, Quero J. Early neurological manifestations and brain anomalies in Marden-Walker syndrome. American journal of medical genetics 1992. link 10 Niemann-Seyde SC, Eber SW, Zoll B. Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (ACS III) in four generations. Clinical genetics 1991. link 11 Adès LC, Kerr B, Turner G, Wise G. Smith-Fineman-Myers syndrome in two brothers. American journal of medical genetics 1991. link 12 Giacoia GP, Pineda R. Expanded spectrum of findings in Marden-Walker syndrome. American journal of medical genetics 1990. link 13 Sees JN, Towfighi J, Robins DB, Ladda RL. "Marden-Walker syndrome": neuropathologic findings in two siblings. Pediatric pathology 1990. link 14 Wells TR, Falk RE, Senac MO, Vachon L. Acrocephalospondylosyndactyly--a possible new syndrome: analysis of the vertebral and intervertebral components. Pediatric pathology 1990. link 15 Cameron TH, Kelly DP. Normal language skills and normal intelligence in a child with de Lange syndrome. The Journal of speech and hearing disorders 1988. link 16 Vanĕk J, Losan F. Pfeiffer's type of acrocephalosyndactyly in two families. Journal of medical genetics 1982. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Genotype-phenotype correlation in Smith-Magenis syndrome: evidence that multiple genes in 17p11.2 contribute to the clinical spectrum.Girirajan S, Vlangos CN, Szomju BB, Edelman E, Trevors CD, Dupuis L et al. Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics (2006)
    2. [2]
    3. [3]
      Marden-Walker syndrome: case report, nosologic discussion and aspects of counseling.Garavelli L, Donadio A, Banchini G, Magnani C, Magnani C, Calzolari E et al. Genetic counseling (Geneva, Switzerland) (2000)
    4. [4]
      Asymmetrical coronal synostosis, cutaneous syndactyly of the fingers and toes, and jejunal atresia in a male infant.Pfeiffer RA, Rinnert S, Popp R, Röckelein G American journal of medical genetics (1996)
    5. [5]
      Smith-Magenis syndrome deletion: a case with equivocal cytogenetic findings resolved by fluorescence in situ hybridization.Juyal RC, Greenberg F, Mengden GA, Lupski JR, Trask BJ, van den Engh G et al. American journal of medical genetics (1995)
    6. [6]
      Hartmann's vision. Identical twins and developmental organizations.Abrams S, Neubauer PB The Psychoanalytic study of the child (1994)
    7. [7]
      Marden-Walker syndrome: a case report and a critical review of the literature.Williams MS, Josephson KD, Wargowski DS Clinical dysmorphology (1993)
    8. [8]
      Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular evidence for an infant with Smith-Magenis syndrome born from a mother having a mosaic 17p11.2p12 deletion.Zori RT, Lupski JR, Heju Z, Greenberg F, Killian JM, Gray BA et al. American journal of medical genetics (1993)
    9. [9]
      Early neurological manifestations and brain anomalies in Marden-Walker syndrome.García-Alix A, Blanco D, Cabañas F, Garcia Sanchez P, Pellicer A, Quero J American journal of medical genetics (1992)
    10. [10]
      Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (ACS III) in four generations.Niemann-Seyde SC, Eber SW, Zoll B Clinical genetics (1991)
    11. [11]
      Smith-Fineman-Myers syndrome in two brothers.Adès LC, Kerr B, Turner G, Wise G American journal of medical genetics (1991)
    12. [12]
      Expanded spectrum of findings in Marden-Walker syndrome.Giacoia GP, Pineda R American journal of medical genetics (1990)
    13. [13]
      "Marden-Walker syndrome": neuropathologic findings in two siblings.Sees JN, Towfighi J, Robins DB, Ladda RL Pediatric pathology (1990)
    14. [14]
    15. [15]
      Normal language skills and normal intelligence in a child with de Lange syndrome.Cameron TH, Kelly DP The Journal of speech and hearing disorders (1988)
    16. [16]
      Pfeiffer's type of acrocephalosyndactyly in two families.Vanĕk J, Losan F Journal of medical genetics (1982)

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