Fetal cerebellar hemorrhage in a severely growth-restricted fetus: natural history and differential diagnosis from Dandy-Walker malformation

Abstract

This is a report of an intracerebellar hemorrhage in a severely growth-restricted fetus with pathological Doppler findings of the fetal and uteroplacental circulations. The diagnosis was made sonographically at 22 weeks of gestation and the natural course of the hemorrhage was followed. Interestingly, the final sonographic appearance of the posterior fossa was quite similar to that of the classic form of Dandy-Walker malformation: absence of the vermis and an enlarged fourth ventricle. However, careful sonographic examination showed that the enlargement of the fourth ventricle was actually caused by a porencephalic cystic lesion of the left cerebellar lobe. Pathological examination revealed complete absence of the vermis and cerebellar hypoplasia. Copyright (C) 2003 ISUOG.