Which brain malformation is commonly seen with agenesis of the corpus callosum?

Which brain malformation is commonly seen with agenesis of the corpus callosum?

• A. Holoprosencephaly
• B. Hydrocephalus
• C. Spina bifida
• D. Dandy-Walker Syndrome

Answer: (D)

Disruptions that affect midline brain development often occur together with posterior fossa anomalies. Agenesis of the corpus callosum results from a failure of commissural fibers to cross between the cerebral hemispheres, and this midline disruption frequently coexists with hindbrain abnormalities. Dandy-Walker malformation involves cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle, hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and an enlarged posterior fossa. Because these processes reflect overlapping developmental disturbances during gestation, this posterior fossa malformation is commonly seen with ACC. On imaging, you’d see the hallmark Dandy-Walker features alongside an absent or markedly underdeveloped corpus callosum, which explains why this association is frequently described. Other conditions represent different patterns of development—holoprosencephaly is a forebrain midline cleavage defect, spina bifida is a spinal neural tube defect, and hydrocephalus can accompany ACC but is not as specifically linked as the Dandy-Walker pattern.

Disruptions that affect midline brain development often occur together with posterior fossa anomalies. Agenesis of the corpus callosum results from a failure of commissural fibers to cross between the cerebral hemispheres, and this midline disruption frequently coexists with hindbrain abnormalities. Dandy-Walker malformation involves cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle, hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and an enlarged posterior fossa. Because these processes reflect overlapping developmental disturbances during gestation, this posterior fossa malformation is commonly seen with ACC. On imaging, you’d see the hallmark Dandy-Walker features alongside an absent or markedly underdeveloped corpus callosum, which explains why this association is frequently described. Other conditions represent different patterns of development—holoprosencephaly is a forebrain midline cleavage defect, spina bifida is a spinal neural tube defect, and hydrocephalus can accompany ACC but is not as specifically linked as the Dandy-Walker pattern.