scholarly journals Imaging-Based Features of Headaches in Chiari Malformation Type I

Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noam Alperin ◽  
James R. Loftus ◽  
Carlos J. Oliu ◽  
Ahmet M. Bagci ◽  
Sang H. Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: Suboccipital cough-induced headaches are considered a hallmark symptom of Chiari malformation type I (CMI). However, non--Valsalva-related suboccipital headaches and headaches in other locations are also common in CMI. The diagnostic significance and the underlying factors associated with these different headaches types are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To compare cranial morphology and hydrodynamics in 3 types of headaches in CMI to better understand the pathophysiological basis for the different headache characteristics. METHODS: Twenty-two cranial physiological and morphological measures were obtained with specialized magnetic resonance imaging scans from 63 symptomatic pretreated CMI patients, 40 with suboccipital headaches induced by Valsalva maneuvers (34 women; age, 36 ± 10 years), 15 with non--Valsalva-related suboccipital headaches (10 women; age, 33 ± 9 years), 8 with nonsuboccipital non--Valsalva-induced headaches (8 women; age, 39 ± 13 years), and 37 control subjects (24 women; age, 36 ± 12 years). Group differences were identified with the use of the 2-tailed Student t test. RESULTS: Posterior cranial fossa markers of CMI were similar among the 3 headache subtypes. However, the Valsalva-related suboccipital headaches cohort demonstrated a significantly lower intracranial compliance index than the non--Valsalva-related suboccipital headaches cohort (7.5 ± 3.4 vs 10.9 ± 4.9), lower intracranial volume change during the cardiac cycle (0.48 ± 0.19 vs 0.61 ± 0.16 mL), and higher magnetic resonance imaging--derived intracranial pressure (11.1 ± 4.3 vs 7.7 ± 2.8 mm Hg; P = .02). The Valsalva-related suboccipital headaches cohort had smaller intracranial and lateral ventricular volumes compared with the healthy cohort. The non--Valsalva-related suboccipital headaches cohort had reduced venous drainage through the jugular veins. CONCLUSION: Valsalva-induced worsening of occipital headaches appears to be related to a small intracranial volume rather than the smaller posterior cranial fossa. This explains the reduced intracranial compliance and corresponding higher pressure measured in CMI patients with headaches affected by Valsalva maneuvers.

2018 ◽  
Vol 116 ◽  
pp. e1129-e1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiko Hayashi ◽  
Masahiro Oishi ◽  
Yasuo Sasagawa ◽  
Daisuke Kita ◽  
Kazuto Kozaka ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Posterior vault distraction osteogenesis (PVDO) is an effective tool to increase intracranial volume and expand the posterior cranial fossa. During PVDO, the authors extended osteotomy posterior to the foramen magnum to fully expand the posterior cranial fossa. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of complete PVDO in posterior fossa expansion and treatment of Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) in patients with craniosynostosis. METHODS Patients with craniosynostosis who had undergone complete PVDO between January 2012 and May 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. A coronal osteotomy extending to the foramen magnum was performed and the foramen magnum was decompressed by removing its posterior rim with a 1-mm Kerrison rongeur. Four distractor devices were placed and the vector of distraction was controlled from the posterior to the inferior-posterior direction, depending on the deformity. Changes in the intracranial volume, posterior cranial fossa area, and cerebellar tonsillar descent were measured after complete PVDO by using CT and MRI. RESULTS A total of 11 patients with craniosynostosis and concurrent CM-I were included in the study. The mean age was 34.6 ± 24.0 months (continuous variables are expressed as the mean ± SD throughout). One patient had sleep apnea, which was consistent with CM-I, and another patient had a headache, which was nonspecific. The intracranial volume increased from 1179.6 ± 180.2 cm3 to 1440.6 ± 251.5 cm3 (p = 0.003; 24.5% increase compared to the preoperative volume). The posterior skull base area increased from 44.9 ± 19.3 cm2 to 72.7 ± 18.1 cm2 (p = 0.004). Cerebellar tonsillar descent decreased in all 11 patients after complete PVDO (preoperative: 10.8 ± 3.7 mm, postoperative: 2.7 ± 3.0 mm; p = 0.003). Among the 11 patients, 5 showed complete resolution of cerebellar tonsillar herniation. CONCLUSIONS Complete PVDO can more efficiently expand the posterior cranial fossa, unlike conventional methods. Moreover, it helps to relieve cerebellar tonsillar herniation. Complete PVDO is a powerful tool to increase the intracranial and posterior fossa volumes in patients with craniosynostosis and concurrent CM-I.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia B. Raksin ◽  
Noam Alperin ◽  
Anusha Sivaramakrishnan ◽  
Sushma Surapaneni ◽  
Terry Lichtor

Current techniques for intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement are invasive. All require a surgical procedure for placement of a pressure probe in the central nervous system and, as such, are associated with risk and morbidity. These considerations have driven investigators to develop noninvasive techniques for pressure estimation. A recently developed magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–based method to measure intracranial compliance and pressure is described. In this method the small changes in intracranial volume and ICP that occur naturally with each cardiac cycle are considered. The pressure change during the cardiac cycle is derived from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure gradient waveform calculated from the CSF velocities. The intracranial volume change is determined by the instantaneous differences between arterial blood inflow, venous blood outflow, and CSF volumetric flow rates into and out of the cranial vault. Elastance (the inverse of compliance) is derived from the ratio of the measured pressure and volume changes. A mean ICP value is then derived based on a linear relationship that exists between intracranial elastance and ICP. The method has been validated in baboons, flow phantoms, and computer simulations. To date studies in humans demonstrate good measurement reproducibility and reliability. Several other noninvasive approaches for ICP measurement, mostly nonimaging based, are also reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging–based ICP measurement may prove valuable in the diagnosis and serial evaluation of patients with a variety of disorders associated with alterations in ICP.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryoma Morigaki ◽  
Kiyohito Shinno ◽  
Kyong-Hon Pooh ◽  
Yoshinobu Nakagawa

The authors report the case of an infant with a giant glioependymal cyst. Although it has been suggested that these cysts originate from the tela choroidea, their origin remains controversial. This 35-month-old girl with truncal ataxia was referred to the authors' hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a giant cystic mass extending from the anterior to the posterior cranial fossa. Hydrocephalus was caused by obstruction of the sylvian aqueduct. Endoscopic fenestration of the cyst wall was performed. Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining identified the lesion as a glioependymal cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging performed 8 months later suggested that the cyst originated from the tela choroidea. At 5-year follow-up, there was no tumor recurrence and she had fully recovered. The origin of glioependymal cysts is discussed, and the authors suggest that their origin is the tela choroidea.


2009 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 1046-1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rémy Noudel ◽  
Nicolas Jovenin ◽  
Cristophe Eap ◽  
Bernard Scherpereel ◽  
Laurent Pierot ◽  
...  

Object The chronic tonsillar herniation defining Chiari malformation Type I (CMI) is thought to result from overcrowding of a normally developing hindbrain within a congenitally small posterior cranial fossa (PCF) due to occipital hypoplasia. The goals in the present study were to authenticate the cranioencephalic disproportion in a group of patients with CMI and to discuss new developmental aspects according to which part of the occipital bone was underdeveloped. Methods The authors retrospectively examined a group of 17 patients with CMI. Measurements of osteotentorial and neural structures of the PCF were made on MR images of the brain. The results were compared with findings in 30 healthy controls by using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results Dimensions of the neural structures did not differ between the 2 groups of patients. The mean length of the basiocciput was significantly shorter in the CMI group (19.4 mm) compared with the control group (25.7 mm; p = 0.0003). The mean diameter of the foramen magnum was larger in the CMI group, but this difference was not statistically significant. The dimensions of the supraocciput and the mean angle of the cerebellar tentorium were identical in the 2 groups. Conclusions Data in this study support the idea that occipital hypoplasia is the main cause of overcrowding within the PCF. Basioccipital shortness is a cardinal feature of the resultant shallow PCF and could proceed from a congenital disorder of the cephalic mesoderm of the parachordal plate or occur later in the infancy because of premature stenosis of the sphenooccipital synchondrosis.


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