What is the meaning of: cerebellar tonsillar ectopia but no Chiari 1 malformation

Findings: Pt has cerebellar tonsillar ectopia but no Chiari 1 malformation. There is degenerative facet disease on left at C4-C5. Anterior fusion C5-C6 and C6-C7 with no evidence for recurrent herniation stenosis or infection.

I'm interested in understanding what it means "but no Chiari 1 malformation". Would there be any symptoms at all such as shortness of breath, feeling of pressure at windpipe, etc, without the Chiari 1 malformation?

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Chiari is the malformation of the skull which in turn forces the tonsils to herniate....however, it is possible to have low lying tonsils from the force of an MVA or being pushed by excess CSF .....
Regardless of how the tonsils herniate if they cause an obstruction of CSF it can cause symptoms....but treatments may vary...as  some herniations may retract when there is room for them to move back into.....

We r happy to have u join us, but sorry for the reasons that bring u.

"selma"