Hydrocephalus Due to Dandy Walker Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

Hydrocephalus literally defined as "water in the head", is not a disease entity but a pathologic condition in which there is enlarged cerebral ventricles unrelated to cerebral atrophy or dysgenesis. It results from imbalance of production and absorption of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) or obstruction to the passage of CSF between its origin and point of absorption'. There are various causes of hydrocephalus which could be congenital or acquired. The Dandy-Walker syndrome may be defined as a developmental anomaly of the fourth ventricle and cerebellum in which the foramen of Magendie is atretic with or without associated atresia of one or both foramina of Luschka thus resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus The incidence of the Dandy Walker syndrome in hydrocephalic patients is quite rare; most of the patients were under the age of two years at the time they presented with symptoms. Below is presented a case of Dandy Walker syndrome who first presented with symptoms of hydrocephalus at the age of eleven years.