DANDY-WALKER SYNDROME

Congenital ataxia

Dandy-Walker Syndrome happens when the cerebellum lacks a good vermis (the worm-like thingie in the middle of the cerebellum). For reasons unknown, the vermis just doesn’t appear or grow like it’s supposed to in the fetus. Symptoms usually begin in childhood. As a consequence:

1. Without a vermis, the cerebellum won’t work correctly. The patient will experience ataxia. (The child won’t be a dandy walker, if you will)

2. The empty-vermis-space fills up with CSF. Fluid keeps filling and filling and filling. Eventually a big cerebellar cyst full of CSF forms. That cyst can squish the healthy cerebellum, exacerbating the ataxia. It can also block the normal flow of CSF. (If you go on a long walk, you should drink lots of water.)

3. Blockage of the normal flow of CSF will result in a non-communicating hydrocephalus, which can cause headache, vomiting and seizures.