Re: Chiari 1/Basilar Invagination

[Guest guest]

At 06:07 PM 1/21/99 EST, you wrote:

In english your report means:

>

>MRI report says: The inferior clivus appears somewhat rounded and there

may be

>ab accessory ossicle projecting out the dens The dens projects midline

The clivus is a bone in the anterior part of the skull/neck base. If it

projects upward too far to the midline it can impinge or contact the

brainstem tissue. In cases like this it is often mishapen or could have

protrusions...the accessory ossicle mentioned in the report.

on

>series 2, image 1. There may be some erosions about the right aspect of

the C1

>vertebra.

There is some indication that there is some wearing down of the bone on the

right side of the C1 vertebrae. This may have something to do with the

abnormally positioned clivus.

Survey of the orbits, paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells are

>unremarkable. Small amount of fluid signal noted in the right lacrimal duct.

>

These are normal findings, there is often slight fluid signal noted in the

lacrimal ducts or sinus.

>Doctors report: basilar invagination, she appears to have a stable upper

>cervical spine.

When one of the bones of the skull base comes into contact with tissue from

within the skull it is called either basilar invagination or basilar

impression. The only true way to know how much of a problem this is is to

have a flexion-extention MRI done where the effects of neck movement on the

position of the clivus can be documented.

Basilar Invagination (BI) makes it even more important that you get as much

information as possible before you make any decision regarding surgery. If

there is any indication of brainstem compression this makes the situation

more serious. Make sure you speak to a well qualified NEUROSURGEON (not

neurologist) as this is a surgical condition and far too many neurologists

just do not have a clue when it comes to this stuff. (although we see

enough NSGs who are clueless, I still think your chances of finding someone

who can deal with the diagnosis is better if you seek out a NSG)

What you need to do will depend on your symptoms and the status of your

chiari, and whether or not there are signs of brainstem involvement.

Hope this has been helpful...

Darlene

ACM 2, Basilar Impression, G-tube, RSD,

Mom to Oliver 14, (ACM 1, Intractable Psoriasis, Psoriatic arthritis)

Elliot 12, (Tetrology of Fallot, Long QT syndrome) and Madelaine 7.

...I think our gene pool could use a little chlorine...: )

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