Spontaneous Unilateral Chiari I Secondary to Acquired Tonsillar Hypertrophy/Pseudomass With Syringomyelia in a Juvenile With Progressive Scoliosis

Abstract

Chiari type 1 malformation (CM-1) is a structural defect of the central nervous system in which part of the cerebellar tonsils descend below the level of the foramen magnum, sometimes with associated syringomyelia. Although Chiari malformations were traditionally believed to be congenital, several cases of acquired CM-1 with syringomyelia have been reported. Usually associated with repeat lumbar puncture, increased intracranial pressure, and craniocephalic disproportion, CM-1 in the absence of an underlying etiology is rare. We report a rare case of spontaneous idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy causing unilateral CM-1 with syringomyelia associated with progressive scoliosis in a juvenile with a previously normal neonatal MRI brain and no known underlying pathology. A 9-year-old boy was found to have scoliosis at a routine well-child visit with progression indicated on radiographs 4 months later. Whole spine MRI was performed and showed a new CM-1 with globular, mass-like configuration of the descended right tonsil with otherwise normal tonsillar characteristics. Surgical decompression via suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy with duraplasty was performed with improvement illustrated on repeat MRI 3 months postoperatively. This rare case emphasizes the importance of routine MRI spine early in select patients with idiopathic scoliosis and illustrates the favorable outcomes noted after decompressive craniectomy.