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Dandy-Walker syndrome(DWS)

MedGen UID:
4150
Concept ID:
C0010964
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: DWS; DWS-Related Dandy Walker Syndrome
SNOMED CT: Dandy-Walker malformation (14447001); Dandy-Walker syndrome (14447001); Dandy-Walker deformity (14447001)
Modes of inheritance:
Non-Mendelian inheritance
MedGen UID:
109109
Concept ID:
C0600599
Genetic Function
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that depends on genetic determinants in more than one gene.
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0009072
OMIM®: 220200
Orphanet: ORPHA217

Definition

Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is defined by hypoplasia and upward rotation of the cerebellar vermis and cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle. Affected individuals often have motor deficits such as delayed motor development, hypotonia, and ataxia; about half have mental retardation and some have hydrocephalus. DWM is a heterogeneous disorder. The low empiric recurrence risk of approximately 1 to 2% for nonsyndromic DWM suggests that mendelian inheritance is unlikely (summary by Murray et al., 1985). [from OMIM]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
Dandy-Walker malformation affects brain development, primarily development of the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that coordinates movement. In individuals with this condition, various parts of the cerebellum develop abnormally, resulting in malformations that can be observed with medical imaging. The central part of the cerebellum (the vermis) is absent or very small and may be abnormally positioned. The right and left sides of the cerebellum may be small as well. In affected individuals, a fluid-filled cavity between the brainstem and the cerebellum (the fourth ventricle) and the part of the skull that contains the cerebellum and the brainstem (the posterior fossa) are abnormally large. These abnormalities often result in problems with movement, coordination, intellect, mood, and other neurological functions.

In the majority of individuals with Dandy-Walker malformation, signs and symptoms caused by abnormal brain development are present at birth or develop within the first year of life. Some children have a buildup of fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus) that may cause increased head size (macrocephaly). Up to half of affected individuals have intellectual disability that ranges from mild to severe, and those with normal intelligence may have learning disabilities. Children with Dandy-Walker malformation often have delayed development, particularly a delay in motor skills such as crawling, walking, and coordinating movements. People with Dandy-Walker malformation may experience muscle stiffness and partial paralysis of the lower limbs (spastic paraplegia), and they may also have seizures. While rare, hearing and vision problems can be features of this condition.

Less commonly, other brain abnormalities have been reported in people with Dandy-Walker malformation. These abnormalities include an underdeveloped or absent tissue connecting the left and right halves of the brain (agenesis of the corpus callosum), a sac-like protrusion of the brain through an opening at the back of the skull (occipital encephalocele), or a failure of some nerve cells (neurons) to migrate to their proper location in the brain during development. These additional brain malformations are associated with more severe signs and symptoms.

Dandy-Walker malformation typically affects only the brain, but problems in other systems can include heart defects, malformations of the urogenital tract, extra fingers or toes (polydactyly) or fused fingers or toes (syndactyly), or abnormal facial features.

In 10 to 20 percent of people with Dandy-Walker malformation, signs and symptoms of the condition do not appear until late childhood or into adulthood. These individuals typically have a different range of features than those affected in infancy, including headaches, an unsteady walking gait, paralysis of facial muscles (facial palsy), increased muscle tone, muscle spasms, and mental and behavioral changes. Rarely, people with Dandy-Walker malformation have no health problems related to the condition.

Problems related to hydrocephalus or complications of its treatment are the most common cause of death in people with Dandy-Walker malformation.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/dandy-walker-malformation

Clinical features

From HPO
Hydrocephalus
MedGen UID:
9335
Concept ID:
C0020255
Disease or Syndrome
Hydrocephalus is an active distension of the ventricular system of the brain resulting from inadequate passage of CSF from its point of production within the cerebral ventricles to its point of absorption into the systemic circulation.
Cranial nerve paralysis
MedGen UID:
57717
Concept ID:
C0151311
Disease or Syndrome
Injury to any of the cranial nerves or their nuclei in the brain resulting in muscle weakness.
Truncal ataxia
MedGen UID:
96535
Concept ID:
C0427190
Sign or Symptom
Truncal ataxia is a sign of ataxia characterized by instability of the trunk. It usually occurs during sitting.
Dilated fourth ventricle
MedGen UID:
376050
Concept ID:
C1847117
Finding
An abnormal dilatation of the fourth cerebral ventricle.
Partial absence of cerebellar vermis
MedGen UID:
871190
Concept ID:
C4025667
Congenital Abnormality
Congenital absence of a part of the vermis of cerebellum.
Posterior fossa cyst at the fourth ventricle
MedGen UID:
871328
Concept ID:
C4025816
Finding
Agenesis of cerebellar vermis
MedGen UID:
1768774
Concept ID:
C5437781
Congenital Abnormality
Congenital absence of the vermis of cerebellum.
Thinning and bulging of the posterior fossa bones
MedGen UID:
867417
Concept ID:
C4021788
Finding
Elevated imprint of the transverse sinuses
MedGen UID:
871329
Concept ID:
C4025817
Finding
Nystagmus
MedGen UID:
45166
Concept ID:
C0028738
Disease or Syndrome
Rhythmic, involuntary oscillations of one or both eyes related to abnormality in fixation, conjugate gaze, or vestibular mechanisms.

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVDandy-Walker syndrome
Follow this link to review classifications for Dandy-Walker syndrome in Orphanet.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Chanclud J, Valence S, Perre SV, Guilbaud L, Moutard ML, Jouannic JM, Ducou Le Pointe H, Blondiaux E, Garel C
Pediatr Radiol 2023 Mar;53(3):461-469. Epub 2022 Oct 24 doi: 10.1007/s00247-022-05531-3. PMID: 36274068
Tian W, Chen N, Ye Y, Ma C, Qin C, Niu Y, Xiaoxin L, Zhao L, Zhao H, Liang Z, Song S, Wang Y, Chen Z, Lin J, Yan Z, Duan J, Zhao S, Zhang TJ, Qiu G, Wu Z, Wu N, Zhu L
J Hum Genet 2022 Jun;67(6):347-352. Epub 2022 Jan 13 doi: 10.1038/s10038-021-00996-w. PMID: 35022528
Habibi Z, Ebrahimi H, Meybodi KT, Yaghmaei B, Nejat F
World Neurosurg 2021 Feb;146:e1063-e1070. Epub 2020 Nov 24 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.091. PMID: 33246180

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Alsehli H, Alshahrani SM, Alzahrani S, Ababneh F, Alharbi NM, Alarfaj N, Baarmah D
Sci Rep 2024 Apr 10;14(1):8411. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-59163-8. PMID: 38600369Free PMC Article
Sun Y, Wang T, Zhang N, Zhang P, Li Y
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023 Jan 18;23(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05367-1. PMID: 36653756Free PMC Article
Whitehead MT, Barkovich MJ, Sidpra J, Alves CA, Mirsky DM, Öztekin Ö, Bhattacharya D, Lucato LT, Sudhakar S, Taranath A, Andronikou S, Prabhu SP, Aldinger KA, Haldipur P, Millen KJ, Barkovich AJ, Boltshauser E, Dobyns WB, Mankad K
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022 Oct;43(10):1488-1493. Epub 2022 Sep 22 doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7659. PMID: 36137655Free PMC Article
Steinlin M
Brain Dev 1998 Jun;20(4):199-208. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(98)00019-9. PMID: 9661964
Maria BL, Zinreich SJ, Carson BC, Rosenbaum AE, Freeman JM
Pediatr Neurosci 1987;13(1):45-51. doi: 10.1159/000120300. PMID: 3684815

Diagnosis

Beaman MM, Guidugli L, Hammer M, Barrows C, Gregor A, Lee S, Deak KL, McDonald MT, Jensen C, Zaki MS, Masri AT, Hobbs CA, Gleeson JG, Cohen JL
Am J Med Genet A 2023 Nov;191(11):2757-2767. Epub 2023 Aug 19 doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63363. PMID: 37596828Free PMC Article
Sun Y, Wang T, Zhang N, Zhang P, Li Y
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023 Jan 18;23(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05367-1. PMID: 36653756Free PMC Article
Flores-Sarnat L
Handb Clin Neurol 2013;111:369-88. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-52891-9.00042-7. PMID: 23622187
Spennato P, Mirone G, Nastro A, Buonocore MC, Ruggiero C, Trischitta V, Aliberti F, Cinalli G
Childs Nerv Syst 2011 Oct;27(10):1665-81. Epub 2011 Sep 17 doi: 10.1007/s00381-011-1544-4. PMID: 21928031
van Dellen JR, Ford MA
S Afr Med J 1978 Jun 17;53(25):1034-6. PMID: 358428

Therapy

Güdük M, Akbaş A, Tüzünalp MA, Berikol G, Ekşi MŞ
World Neurosurg 2021 Jan;145:73-76. Epub 2020 Sep 8 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.08.225. PMID: 32916344Free PMC Article
Hernández Salazar M, Zarate Méndez A, Meneses Luna O, Ledesma Torres L, Paniagua Sierra R, Sánchez Moreno MC, Serrato Avila JL
Neurocirugia (Astur : Engl Ed) 2018 Nov-Dec;29(6):296-303. Epub 2018 Jun 18 doi: 10.1016/j.neucir.2018.05.003. PMID: 29914842
Williams AJ, Wang Z, Taylor SF
Neurocase 2016 Oct;22(5):472-475. Epub 2016 Sep 23 doi: 10.1080/13554794.2016.1237657. PMID: 27662527
Constantini S, Sgouros S, Kulkarni A
World Neurosurg 2013 Feb;79(2 Suppl):S23.e1-11. Epub 2012 Feb 10 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2012.02.003. PMID: 22381849
van Dellen JR, Ford MA
S Afr Med J 1978 Jun 17;53(25):1034-6. PMID: 358428

Prognosis

Alves CAPF, Sidpra J, Manteghinejad A, Sudhakar S, Massey FV, Aldinger KA, Haldipur P, Lucato LT, Ferraciolli SF, Teixeira SR, Öztekin Ö, Bhattacharya D, Taranath A, Prabhu SP, Mirsky DM, Andronikou S, Millen KJ, Barkovich AJ, Boltshauser E, Dobyns WB, Barkovich MJ, Whitehead MT, Mankad K
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2023 Oct;44(10):1201-1207. Epub 2023 Aug 17 doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7967. PMID: 37591769Free PMC Article
Sun Y, Wang T, Zhang N, Zhang P, Li Y
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023 Jan 18;23(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05367-1. PMID: 36653756Free PMC Article
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), Monteagudo A
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020 Dec;223(6):B38-B41. Epub 2020 Nov 7 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.08.184. PMID: 33168220
Spennato P, Mirone G, Nastro A, Buonocore MC, Ruggiero C, Trischitta V, Aliberti F, Cinalli G
Childs Nerv Syst 2011 Oct;27(10):1665-81. Epub 2011 Sep 17 doi: 10.1007/s00381-011-1544-4. PMID: 21928031
Maria BL, Zinreich SJ, Carson BC, Rosenbaum AE, Freeman JM
Pediatr Neurosci 1987;13(1):45-51. doi: 10.1159/000120300. PMID: 3684815

Clinical prediction guides

Wee T, Gupta N, Miller E, Pauranik A
Clin Radiol 2024 May;79(5):330-337. Epub 2024 Feb 3 doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2024.01.025. PMID: 38429135
Sun Y, Wang T, Zhang N, Zhang P, Li Y
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023 Jan 18;23(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05367-1. PMID: 36653756Free PMC Article
Di Nora A, Costanza G, Pizzo F, Di Mari A, Sapuppo A, Basile A, Fiumara A, Pavone P
Acta Neurol Belg 2023 Jun;123(3):903-909. Epub 2022 Sep 6 doi: 10.1007/s13760-022-02059-z. PMID: 36068432Free PMC Article
Neri S, Maia N, Fortuna AM, Damasio J, Coale E, Willis M, Jorge P, Højte AF, Fenger CD, Møller RS, Bayat A
Eur J Med Genet 2022 Nov;65(11):104624. Epub 2022 Sep 18 doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2022.104624. PMID: 36130690
Jeret JS, Serur D, Wisniewski KE, Lubin RA
Brain Dev 1987;9(3):255-64. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(87)80042-6. PMID: 3310713

Recent systematic reviews

Stambolliu E, Ioakeim-Ioannidou M, Kontokostas K, Dakoutrou M, Kousoulis AA
J Child Neurol 2017 Sep;32(10):886-902. Epub 2017 Jun 21 doi: 10.1177/0883073817712589. PMID: 28635420
D'Antonio F, Khalil A, Garel C, Pilu G, Rizzo G, Lerman-Sagie T, Bhide A, Thilaganathan B, Manzoli L, Papageorghiou AT
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016 Jun;47(6):690-7. Epub 2016 May 10 doi: 10.1002/uog.14900. PMID: 25970099
Liu S, Hong X, Shen C, Shi Q, Wang J, Xiong F, Qiu Z
BMC Med Genet 2015 Apr 21;16:26. doi: 10.1186/s12881-015-0171-4. PMID: 25896430Free PMC Article

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