Pediatric Blake Pouch Cyst

  • Etiology: Failure of regression of Blake’s pouch due to non-perforation of Foramen of Magendie
  • Imaging: Cystic dilation of fourth ventricle
  • DDX: Dandy Walker Continuum
  • Dandy Walker malformation
    — Retrocerebellar cyst connecting to dilated fourth ventricle
    — Inferior vermian agenesis
    — Mass effect: cerebellar hemispheres splayed out and rotated up
    — Enlarged posterior fossa
    — High tentorium and sinuses (lambdoid torcular inversion)
    — Associations: Corpus callosum agenesis, migrational (polymicrogyria, heterotopia), cephaloceles (occipital), hydrocephalus, hypoplasia or atrophy of cerebellum or brainstem
  • Dandy Walker variant
    — Smaller retrocerebellar cyst
    — Milder fourth ventricle dilation
    — Milder inferior vermian agenesis or hypogenesis
    — Normal size or mildly enlarged posterior fossa
    — Similar associations
  • Mega cisterna magna
    — Enlarged cisterna magna (subarachnoid space)
    — Normal fourth ventricle
    — Intact with or without atrophic vermis
    — Normal sized or mildly enlarged posterior fossa
  • Blake pouch cyst
    — Cystic dilation of fourth ventricle
  • Complications:
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Blake Pouch Cyst

MRI of Blake pouch cyst
Axial (above), sagittal (below left), and coronal (below right) T2 MRI without contrast of the brain shows dilation of the lateral and third ventricles. The cerebellum is small in size and there is a large and fluid-filled posterior fossa.