What Is Dandy-Walker?
Table of Contents
So What is Dandy-Walker Syndrome?
According to the medical literature, Dandy-Walker Malformation is a rare congenital brain malformation in children that involves the cerebellum.1
Let’s break down the different types of Dandy-Walker: Dandy-Walker Malformation and Dandy-Walker Variant
| Medical label | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|
| Dandy-Walker Malformation (a.k.a Dandy-Walker Syndrome) | The back part of the brain (the cerebellum) doesn’t form in the usual way and a fluid-filled pouch opens up, blocking normal cereberal spinal fluid (CSF) flow. It’s the classic and usually the most severe form.2 |
| Dandy-Walker Variant | Only part of the cerebellum (the vermis) is smaller or under-developed, but the big fluid pouch is not there. Symptoms can be mild or sometimes absent. The term “variant” is falling out of favor because it vague. |
| Mega cisterna magna | The CSF space behind the cerebellum is enlarged, yet the cerebellum itself looks normal. Often an incidental MRI finding. |
When we were learning about Dandy-Walker, the doctor used a dumbbell as a reference to visualize the cerebellum. The vermis is the dumbbell handle and in cases of the variant it’s either thin or missing.