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Chiari II malformation

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Long history of neurological disturbance.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Female
mri

Right parietal V-P shunt in situ. No hydrocephalus. Extra-axial spaces are mildly prominent but there is no overt subdural collection to suggest over shunting.

Typical features of Chiari 2 malformation with more than 25 mm of cerebellar tonsillar ectopia, small posterior fossa, towering cerebellum, peaked tectal plate, callosal dysgenesis with hypoplastic body and splenium and associated colpocephaly, fenestrated falx with gyral interdigitation, diffuse posterior predominant stenogyria and large massa intermedia. The clivus is vertically oriented and the sella is shallow with superior convexity of the pituitary, projecting into the suprasellar cistern, and relative inferior displacement of the posterior pituitary bright spot.

No other gross midline abnormality. In particular, the optic chiasm is unremarkable. No evidence of a syrinx in the imaged upper cervical cord.

x-ray

Shunt series, demonstrates the distal tip of the shunt lies centrally in the abdomen at the level of L1. Prominent multilevel spina bifida noted with associated scoliosis. 

Case Discussion

Typical features of Chiari 2 malformation.

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