Can a baby survive with Dandy-Walker Syndrome?
Some people with Dandy-Walker complex may have physical disabilities or intellectual disabilities . In most cases, infants who have isolated Dandy-Walker variant are more likely to have normal outcomes in the newborn period.
What are the symptoms of Dandy-Walker Syndrome?
The symptoms of Dandy Walker syndrome typically include developmental delay, low tone (hypotonia) or later high tone (spasticity), poor coordination and balance (ataxia), and sometimes enlarged head circumference and increased pressure within the skull due to hydrocephalus.
Can Dandy-Walker Syndrome be cured?
Treatment for individuals with Dandy-Walker Syndrome generally consists of treating the associated problems, if needed. A surgical procedure called a shunt may be required to drain off excess fluid within the brain, which will reduce pressure inside the skull and improve symptoms.
Is Dandy-Walker Syndrome a birth defect?
The Dandy-Walker malformation is a congenital (present at birth) defect affecting the cerebellum, the back part of the brain that controls movement, behavior and cognitive ability.
Can Dandy-Walker syndrome be diagnosed in utero?
Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) is easily seen with obstetrical ultrasound and is usually diagnosed by 20 weeks’ gestation, but has been seen even earlier. The findings on ultrasound consist of a cyst in the cerebellum. There may or may not be other birth defects in the brain or in other organ systems.
What is the life expectancy of a child with hydrocephalus?
What is the life expectancy of a child who has hydrocephalus? Children often have a full life span if hydrocephalus is caught early and treated. Infants who undergo surgical treatment to reduce the excess fluid in the brain and survive to age 1 will not have a shortened life expectancy due to hydrocephalus.
Is Dandy-Walker Syndrome considered a disability?
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.
Can a baby live without a cerebellum?
The cerebellum controls smooth movement, and when it does not develop, the rest of the brain must compensate, which it cannot do completely. The condition is not fatal on its own, but people born without a cerebellum experience severe developmental delays, language deficits, and neurological abnormalities.
Is Dandy-Walker a chromosomal abnormality?
Dandy-Walker syndrome (DWS) is a brain malformation of unknown etiology, but several reports have been published indicating that there is a causal relationship to various types of chromosomal abnormalities and malformation syndromes.
Which chromosome abnormality causes Dandy-Walker syndrome?
Dandy-Walker malformation most often occurs in people with trisomy 18 (an extra copy of chromosome 18), but can also occur in people with trisomy 13, trisomy 21 , or trisomy 9. This condition can also be associated with missing (deletions ) or copied (duplications ) pieces of certain chromosomes.
What is the difference between Dandy-Walker malformation and variant?
Dandy-Walker variant (DWv) is a less severe posterior fossa anomaly than the classic Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) and is considered being on the lesser end of the disease spectrum in the Dandy-Walker continuum.
Can a child outgrow hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is a lifelong condition. However, with proper treatment and maintenance, children with hydrocephalus can lead normal lives with few limitations.