Chiari malformation: headaches, choking on food, and back pain. The images are generally degraded by patient motion artifact. The cerebellar tonsils extend up to 12 mm inferior to the foramen magnum and have pointed morphologies. There is also impeded flow of cerebrospinal fluid across the foramen magnum. There appears to be a very short segment 1 mm diameter syrinx in the upper cervical spinal cord. The rest of the spinal cord displays normal signal and morphology. The conus medullaris is located at the L1 level and there is no evidence of fibrofatty filum terminale. The vertebral column alignment is within normal limits. The vertebral body and disc space heights are preserved. The vertebral bone marrow signal is unremarkable. There is no significant spinal canal stenosis. The spinal cord displays normal signal and morphology. The paravertebral soft tissues are unremarkable.
1. Findings compatible with Chiari type 1 malformation, including cerebellar tonsils that extend up to 12 mm inferior to the foramen magnum, with pointed morphologies, and impeded flow of cerebrospinal fluid across the foramen magnum. 2. Apparent very short segment 1 mm diameter syrinx in the upper cervical spinal cord. 