Can anyone hlep please, MRI reading of Chiari

[xmelax35]

Can someone tell me what the following means?  I had Chiari Type 1 malformation, but had surgery over a year and 2 months ago.  These MRI’s were done and here is some information from them.

MRI #: The cerebellar tonsils are again noted to be somewhat low-lying. This finding is stable.

MRI #2 -Past surgical changes of suboccipital cranioctomy. The cerebellar tonsils protrude inferiorly into the foramen magnum and are somewhat deformed consistant witht he patient's history of Chiari malformation.
It went from being somewhat low-lying, to the protruding inferiorly and deformed.  Does this mean it is protruding again, that my Chiari is back?  I did not see the neuro after this MRI, because of insurance reasons.  

However, I wondered if someone, can tell me what this means?  I have been having the same symtpoms I had before my Chiari surgery and more and worse so that is why we had the MRI done.  I really need to know what MRI # 2 means especially when it says protude inferiorly.  Thank you again.

I feel horrible everyday.  Thank you for any answers.

[xmelax35]

Thanks, that makes sense.  That is what my family kinda thought, as far as it may be getting worse.  That is what a lot of people actually thought.  As far as your putting the words into place, that helped alot.  

Anyway, I kinda wondered, but I am afraid to ask the doctor, if I might have Tethered Cord Syndrome - that would be pulling it back down somewhat.  I don't know how to mention it to the doctor w/o him thinking I might be a hypocondriac or something.  Some say sometimes evidence of it on and MRI is not always apparent, that is what I heard.  Wonder if they are right.  Thanks for the help, that is all I was looking for and I really couldn't find anything with the lingo on the internet.

[Shane99]

Hmm, well, to be honest. I think all that's just fancy doctor speak for "Chiari Malformation" I guess it could be written that way like from one doctor that's a Chiari Specialist to another that isn't.

*Inferior means 'down' in Doctor-speak
*Foramen magnum - the hole at the base of the skull
*Somewhat deformed - the whole idea of a herniated cerebellar tonsil means there is a deformity of the cerebellum.

So, "The cerebellar tonsils protrude inferiorly into the foramen magnum and are somewhat deformed . . . " would mean; You have deformed cerebellar tonsils protruding down into the hole at the base of the skull. - Or a Chiari Malformation! :D

The surgery you had shores up the herniation, but it doesn't get rid of it With it being mentioned the way it is, they may be refering to it growing past the "dam" he put in place. Mentioning it so promenantly like that suggests (to me) like it may be getting worse.

Hope this helps, but make sure you follow up and ask you Doctors - I'm not a health care professional.

[selmaS]

I do hope u will continue to post here.....

                               it's a great place for support!


                  "selma"

[xmelax35]

Going to Cleveland in 2 weeks to see a neurologist.
Thanks

[selmaS]

Hi, I can not explain the verbage used, in ur post. I do know that chiari can not be cured.I also have heard that chiari herniations can reoccur.It can be the type of patch used in ur first surgery.Was ur NS in fact a chiari specialist?

Depending on where u live u may need to travel for an eval from a chiari dr.

Did u lose insurance coverage?....or do u need referals? U mentioned an insurance issue as to y u did not make an appoint.

Shane99? can u help with the verbage?

Godspeed
"selma"