What is cerebellar tonsillar ectopia mean?
Ectopia indicates an inferior position of the cerebellar tonsils. Cerebellar Tonsillar Ectopia denotes all cases including congenital and acquired in which the cerebellar tonsils are below the base of the skull. Cerebellar Tonsillar Ectopia includes asymptomatic and symptomatic cases of all degrees of severity.
Can cerebellar tonsillar ectopia get worse?
If you have been diagnosed with Chiari malformation, one of the first questions you may have is, “Can Chiari malformation get worse?” The simple answer is, yes, it can, which is why many (though not all) patients will require treatment.
What is cerebellar tonsil?
The cerebellum is the part of the brain located low down at the back of the head. It has two small areas at the bottom called the cerebellar ‘tonsils’. Normally, the cerebellum (and nearby brainstem) sits entirely within the skull.
What do cerebellar tonsils do?
Normal anatomy of the cerebellum compared to Chiari I malformation. The posterior fossa is too small causing the cerebellar tonsils to herniate through the skull (foramen magnum) into the spinal canal. The tonsils block the flow of CSF (blue) and may cause fluid buildup inside the spinal cord, called a syrinx.
Are cerebellar tonsils normal?
Normally, the cerebellar tonsils should lie no more than 3 mm below the foramen magnum. Extension below the foramen between of 3 and 5 mm is considered borderline. Chiari malformations larger than 5 mm but smaller than 10 mm are symptomatic in approximately 70% of patients.
What happens if Chiari is left untreated?
A CM can block the normal flow of this fluid and cause pressure within the head that can result in mental impairment and/or an enlarged or misshapen skull. Severe hydrocephalus, if left untreated, can be fatal. Hydrocephalus can occur with any type of Chiari malformation, but is most commonly associated with Type II.
What is tonsillar ectopia?
Tonsillar ectopia is also known as tonsillar herniation, tonsillar descent or Chiari malformation type 1. It is a congenital anomaly in which the brain tissues grow extensively into the spinal canal which result in the elongation of the cerebral tonsils and pushed down the skull through an opening at the base of the skull.
How is cerebellar tonsillar ectopia (CTE) treated?
Treatment of conditions associated with Cerebellar Tonsillar Ectopia is directed towards the specific symptoms exhibited by the patient. Treatment plans must be patient specific and typically require a team of physicians from multiple specialties. These physicians may include neurologists, pediatricians, and ophthalmologists.
What is caudal displacement of the cerebellar tonsils?
The Caudal displacement of the cerebellar tonsils is secondary to another defined pathological process. This sets Acquired Tonsillar Ectopia apart from Chiari I Malformations and Low-Lying Tonsils. A type of cerebral herniation, Tonsillar Herniation is characterized by the inferior descent of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum.
What are low-lying tonsils?
Low-lying tonsils usually locate slightly below the base of the skull and measure less than 5 mm. This refers to a subtype of Cerebellar Tonsillar Ectopia in which the cerebral tonsils descend through the foramen magnum.