Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of Dandy-Walker malformation and type III lissencephaly: A novel association

J Clin Ultrasound. 2020 May;48(4):235-239. doi: 10.1002/jcu.22805. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Abstract

Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM) may occur as part of Mendelian disorders such as Walker-Warburg and Meckel-Gruber syndromes. We report a novel association with type III lissencephaly in a 22-week male fetus. Ultrasound showed fetal akinesia deformation sequence, single umbilical artery, microlissencephaly, hydranencephaly with cerebral lamination, DWM, and pontocerebellar hypoplasia. These abnormalities were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and autopsy, which also revealed pulmonary and adrenal hypoplasia, common mesentery and bilateral uretero-pyelo-calyceal dilatation. Neuropathological examination showed brain calcifications and diffuse neuronal degeneration. We conclude that DWM may be a feature of type III lissencephaly and that this association can be easily diagnosed by ultrasound.

Keywords: Dandy-Walker malformation; malformations; microlissencephaly; obstetrics; ultrasonography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dandy-Walker Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lissencephaly / diagnostic imaging*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Microcephaly / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

Supplementary concepts

  • Lissencephaly 3