Morphometric Analysis of the Posterior Cranial Fossa in Healthy Adult Population and Patients with Chiari Malformation

DR. K. PRABHURAMAN; DR. ROHIT BALASUBRAMANIAN; DR. P. MAGESH

Volume : VIII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

Morphometric Analysis of the Posterior Cranial Fossa in Healthy Adult Population and Patients with Chiari Malformation

Dr. K. Prabhuraman, Dr. Rohit Balasubramanian, Dr. P. Magesh

Abstract :

Aim: To analyse the mophometric parameters of the posterior cranial fossa along with the ainstem and cerebellum in patients with Chiari malformation. This study is an attempt to analyse the morphology and dimensions of the bony and neural structures of the PCF in the Indian adult population and to study the correlation between the analysed parameters and tonsillar herniation. Introduction: Chiari malformation is a hindain malformation characterized by a downward herniation of the caudal part of the cerebellum (tonsil) and/or medulla oblongata into the spinal canal. This leads to a spectrum of clinical symptoms such as occipital headache, neck pain, along with cerebellar, bulbar, ocular and sensorymotor symptoms. Materials and Methods: 30 patients with Chiari Malformation and 44 control subjects were enrolled in the study. MRI ain was done in all the patients. Control subjects underwent MRI for unrelated problems such as migraine. Posterior fossa volume, Length of basiocciput, length of the ainstem, length of the cerebellum, tonsillar descent and compression of the CSF cisterns at the level of the foramen magnum were measured and analysed with the aid of SPSS software for Windows (version 11, SPSS, Inc). Results: Therewas a significant reduction of posterior cranial fossa volume as well as compression of the CSF citerns at the level of the foramen magnum in patients with Chiari Malformation. Conclusion: This study reestablishes the fact that Chiari Malformation – I is a disorder of the mesoderm and the fundamental problem is a volumetrically small posterior cranial fossa which results in varying degrees of hindain overcrowding and results in tonsilar descent and CSF flow abnormalities leading to syringomyelia and hydrocephalus and the resultant symptoms