Paroxysmal rage as a presenting symptom of the Chiari I malformation. Report of two cases.
Signs of meningeal irritation including occipital and cervical pain are common in symptomatic children with the Chiari I malformation. The author reports on two children with Chiari I malformations who presented with a previously undescribed symptom presumably caused by intermittent meningeal irritation: paroxysmal rages. In both cases the rages stopped after decompressive surgery. Evaluation including magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in children with new onset of paroxysmal behavioral disorders.
Hudgins
R J
RJ
Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Rogerhud@aol.com
D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008580:Meningism / Q000175:diagnosis; D011889:Rage / Q000502:physiology