eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Pediatrics

Chiari I Malformation: Multimedia

Author: Nasir H Siddiqi, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Washington University; Attending Radiologist, Vascular and Inerventional Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University
Coauthor(s): Lakshmana Das Narla, MD, Director of Pediatric Radiology, Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Medical College of Virginia
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 4, 2009

Multimedia

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. The line j...Media file 1: Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. The line joining the basion to the opisthion defines the lower limit of posterior cranial fossa and the reference point for measuring tonsillar ectopia.
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. The line j...

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. The line joining the basion to the opisthion defines the lower limit of posterior cranial fossa and the reference point for measuring tonsillar ectopia.

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Anatomic l...Media file 2: Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Anatomic landmarks identified include the fourth ventricle (A), basion (B), medulla oblongata (C), cerebellar tonsil (D), opisthion (E), and cerebellar hemisphere (F).
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Anatomic l...

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Anatomic landmarks identified include the fourth ventricle (A), basion (B), medulla oblongata (C), cerebellar tonsil (D), opisthion (E), and cerebellar hemisphere (F).

Sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cer...Media file 3: Sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cervical spinal cord shows syringomyelia with marginal ectopia.
Sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cer...

Sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cervical spinal cord shows syringomyelia with marginal ectopia.

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cer...Media file 4: Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cervical spinal cord. Note the presence of a large syrinx in association with mild tonsillar ectopia.
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cer...

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brainstem and cervical spinal cord. Note the presence of a large syrinx in association with mild tonsillar ectopia.

Axial CT scan obtained at the C1 level after cerv...Media file 5: Axial CT scan obtained at the C1 level after cervical myelography. Arrows mark cerebellar tonsils that are abnormally low.
Axial CT scan obtained at the C1 level after cerv...

Axial CT scan obtained at the C1 level after cervical myelography. Arrows mark cerebellar tonsils that are abnormally low.

Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spina...Media file 6: Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spinal cord at the level of C1-2. Note the low right cerebellar tonsil. Also note that the tonsillar ectopia is asymmetric.
Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spina...

Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spinal cord at the level of C1-2. Note the low right cerebellar tonsil. Also note that the tonsillar ectopia is asymmetric.

Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spina...Media file 7: Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spinal cord at the C1 level. Note that the ectopic cerebellar tonsils are positioned snugly in the posterolateral subarachnoid space of the cervical spinal canal.
Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spina...

Axial T1-weighted MRI of the upper cervical spinal cord at the C1 level. Note that the ectopic cerebellar tonsils are positioned snugly in the posterolateral subarachnoid space of the cervical spinal canal.

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Note the a...Media file 8: Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Note the advanced tonsillar ectopia, cervicomedullary kinking, diminutive posterior cranial fossa, underdeveloped basiocciput, and craniovertebral junction.
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Note the a...

Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of the brain. Note the advanced tonsillar ectopia, cervicomedullary kinking, diminutive posterior cranial fossa, underdeveloped basiocciput, and craniovertebral junction.

More on Chiari I Malformation

Overview: Chiari I Malformation
Imaging: Chiari I Malformation
Multimedia: Chiari I Malformation
References
Further Reading

References

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  2. Caldwell DL, Dubose CO, White TB. Chiari malformations. Radiol Technol. Mar-Apr 2009;80(4):340MR-354MR; quiz 355MR-358MR. [Medline].

  3. Caldarelli M, Novegno F, Di Rocco C. A late complication of CSF shunting: acquired Chiari I malformation. Childs Nerv Syst. Dec 5 2008;[Medline].

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  5. Miller JH, Limbrick DD, Callen M, Smyth MD. Spontaneous resolution of Chiari malformation Type I in monozygotic twins. J Neurosurg Pediatr. Nov 2008;2(5):317-9. [Medline].

  6. Sindou M, Gimbert E. Decompression for Chiari type I-malformation (with or without syringomyelia) by extreme lateral foramen magnum opening and expansile duraplasty with arachnoid preservation: comparison with other technical modalities (Literature review). Adv Tech Stand Neurosurg. 2009;34:85-110. [Medline].

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Keywords

Chiari I malformation, CMI, Chiari malformation, hindbrain abnormality, congenital tonsillar ectopia, chronic tonsillar herniation, adult-type Chiari malformation, cerebellomedullary malformation syndrome

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Nasir H Siddiqi, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Washington University; Attending Radiologist, Vascular and Inerventional Radiology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University
Nasir H Siddiqi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Medical Association, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Lakshmana Das Narla, MD, Director of Pediatric Radiology, Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Medical College of Virginia
Lakshmana Das Narla, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Charles M Glasier, MD, Professor, Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Chief, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Vice-Chief, Pediatric Radiology, Arkansas Children's Hospital
Charles M Glasier, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society for Pediatric Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Resolution Imaging Medical Corporation
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Eugene C Lin, MD, Consulting Radiologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Eugene C Lin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Nuclear Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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