Sonographic detection of inferior vermian agenesis in Dandy-Walker malformations: prognostic implications.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prognoses for fetuses with sonographically detected inferior vermian agenesis (IVA) or complete vermian agenesis (CVA).


METHODS
The sonograms of 65 fetuses with Dandy-Walker malformations were retrospectively reviewed. Fetuses were divided into two groups--those with IVA and those with CVA.


RESULTS
Of the 65 fetuses, 37 had IVA; 28, CVA. Thirteen (20%) of the 65-nine (24%) of the 37 with IVA and four (14%) of the 28 with CVA--lived for longer than 1 year. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 23 (45%) of the 51 fetuses tested for karyotypic abnormalities or clinically thought to have Down syndrome. Seventeen (53%) of the 32 with IVA and six (32%) of the 19 with CVA that were tested for karyotypic abnormalities or clinically thought to have Down syndrome had chromosomal abnormalities (P = .07). Associated morphologic abnormalities were prenatally detected in 49 (75%) of the 65-in 28 (76%) of the 37 with IVA and in 21 (75%) of the 28 with CVA.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall guarded prognosis is similar for fetuses with Dandy-Walker malformations for whom IVA or CVA has been sonographically diagnosed. Fetuses with IVA have a higher prevalence of karyotypic abnormalities.
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0628.
M C
MC
Chang
S A
SA
Russell
P W
PW
Callen
R A
RA
Filly
R B
RB
Goldstein
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000453:epidemiology; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D003616:Dandy-Walker Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal