Chronic Daily Headache in the Adults: Differential Diagnosis Between Symptomatic Chiari I Malformation and Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

Overview

Journal Neurol Sci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2011 Aug 9

PMID 21822702

Citations 7

Authors

Eliana Mea

Luisa Chiapparini

Massimo Leone

Angelo Franzini

Giuseppe Messina

Gennaro Bussone

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This article briefly reviews the spectrum of headaches associated with Chiari type I malformation (CMI) and specifically analyzes the current data on the possibility of this malformation as an etiology for some cases of chronic daily headache (CDH). CMI is definitely associated with cough headache and not with primary episodic headaches, with the rare exception of basilar migraine-like cases. With regard to CDH, there is no clear evidence supporting an association with CMI. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study would be justified only in patients showing either a Valsalva-aggravating component or cervicogenic features. Hydrocephalus and low-intracranial pressure syndrome should be ruled out in patients showing tonsillar herniation in an MRI study and consulting due to daily headache.

Citing Articles

Overview of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension and Differential Diagnosis with Chiari I Malformation.

Bin Wan Hassan W, Mistretta F, Molinaro S, Russo R, Bosco G, Gambino A J Clin Med. 2023; 12(9).

PMID: 37176727 PMC: 10179697. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093287.

Assessment of patients with a Chiari malformation type I.

Po Tam S, Chia J, Brodbelt A, Foroughi M Brain Spine. 2022; 2:100850.

PMID: 36248113 PMC: 9560699. DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2021.100850.

Cerebellar tonsillar descent: A diagnostic dilemma between Chiari malformation type 1 and spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Chan T, Vuong K, Chugh T, Carroll I Heliyon. 2021; 7(4):e06795.

PMID: 33981879 PMC: 8082209. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06795.

Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Presenting as a "Pseudo-Chiari 1.

Haider A, Sulhan S, Watson I, Leonard D, Arrey E, Khan U Cureus. 2017; 9(2):e1034.

PMID: 28357166 PMC: 5354398. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.1034.

Patient-reported Chiari malformation type I symptoms and diagnostic experiences: a report from the national Conquer Chiari Patient Registry database.

Fischbein R, Saling J, Marty P, Kropp D, Meeker J, Amerine J Neurol Sci. 2015; 36(9):1617-24.

PMID: 25972139 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-015-2219-9.

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