Is there suppose to be CSF in the 4th Ventricle?

[sleepypea]

Hi All,
I received my cine MRI report today and I am so confused about the findings. Can someone please help me to understand what is going on? UUGGHHH this is so frustrating I hate it!!!
Here is what the report states....

CSF flow study demonstrates no flow within the cerebral aqueduct. No jet is identified. This is of uncertain significance. No hydrocephalus to suggest cerebral aqueductal stenosis. There is no papilledema. normal prepontine CSF flow, and normal flow around the foramen magnum.

IMPRESSION: Findings of tonsillar ectopia without Chiari malformation. There is no cerebral aqueductal CSF flow or flow within the fourth ventricle identified, however, this is of uncertain significance and may be technical in nature. No structural explanation is identified for the patient's headaches.


Ok i'm no brain scientist, but I do know how to google things and apparently there should be CSF flow in the 4th Ventricle so is this considered a blockage or not?? They didn't even measure the Tonsillar ectopia just noted that it wasn't a CM.... It looks like one to me. I have the CD and would post a pic of the slides if I knew how but I don't. The last MRI noted it as being 5 mm

I'm just so confused and now I am dreading going to see the NS because I am scared he will brush me off as not really having anything serious enough to be treated by a NS. I am sick and tired of being treated as though I'm not really having any of the symptoms!!!

[selmaS]

Hi...yeah I have to agree it does sound like u have a CSF blockage .....not sure on this radiologists terms or y it was reported in this manor.

The tonsils being peg like can cause a CSF blockage, but, there are those of us that do not have the peg shaped tonsil and still have overcrowding and blockage.There r sooooo many things they should be looking at other then the size and shape of the tonsils....like is nething else in the area causing a blockage?.....The Odontoid can be curved the wrong way and cause many issues.......

I pray ur Nov 1st visit proves productive for u.......mayb  with a younger dr u will find him more eager to learn  about chiari and help u get the proper care.....just out of school, he may still be in the habit of looking things up and doing an investigation of his own????


"selma"

[sleepypea]

Hi, Thanks for your help.
I have not officially been dx with a CM, but I had a MRI of my C-spine done a few months back to check my hardware from a previous spinal fusion and try and explain all of my weird symptoms as well as chronic HAs.  As a result of that MRI a 5 mm cerebellar ectopia was found. They (the Radiologist) concluded that because the cerebellar tonsils were not peg shaped like usual with CM that it was just a cerbellar ectopia and that was it. It was also noted that I also have some bone spuring on my spine above where the fusion was. I then took that report to a NL I had previously seen that treated me like a moron the first time I met him and he inturn ordered the cine MRI to check flow. The OP is the results of that flow study.
I am scheduled to meet with a NS on Nov. 1st to see what he thinks, but I highly doubt he is a Chiari specialist. I looked him up on the internet and he is in his last yr. of residency and wouldn't you know it, I am going to be one of the first patients he sees. Lucky Me!!! The scheduling dept. called me and ask if I could come in one day early because they were trying to get him a clinic set up so he could start seeing patients. I swear I feel like I can't win for losing, but I will go and I will deem to have a good attitude and positive vibes so maybe this appt. will be successful.
I have limited ability to be picky because I am on FL Medicaid and very few Dr.s will accept it, much less an out of state Dr. I called TCI to see if there was a way to have my Ins. accepted and they said No. They can't accept out of State Medicaid so I am up a creek unless I win the lottery and can pay cash to see a good specialist.

[n40066]

apparently, the radiologist who read your films is not very well aquainted with cm.  and is going by the "old standards" of anything less than 5mm is not considered to meet the criteria for cm.  hogwash.  send your films off to a specialist and let them have a look.  you DO have a chiari malformation.  the degree of the herniation is not what is the most important thing, however.  it is the overcrowding and restriction of csf, which you obviously do have.  don't waste any more of your time with drs that just simply are not trained to deal with this condition.  you will only throw away your money and add further stress, pain and frustration to your life.  send your films to a specialist for review and put your mind at ease, my friend.  it will be the best thing you could ever do for yourself!!
keep us posted!
elizabeth