Chiari malformation (CM) is a brain defect in which part of the lower brain, especially the part which controls balance (cerebellum), is pushed downward towards the opening in the skull where the spinal cord starts.
This interferes with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. In the past the condition was seen as very rare, but better scanning with newer techniques such as CT scans and MRI’s have shown that Chiari malformation could be quite common. There are different types of Chiari malformation. The most common one may not cause any symptoms and is often found by accident during an examination for something else during adolescence or adulthood. Otherwise there could be a range of vague symptoms such as neck pain, dizziness, vertigo, muscle weakness, difficulty with swallowing, numbness, vision problems, chronic fatigue and headache. Chiari malformation is normally treated with surgery.
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