Otologic manifestations of Chiari I malformation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of otologic symptoms in patients undergoing surgical decompression for symptomatic Chiari I malformation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, prospective, nonrandomized.


METHODS
Urban tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Patients with Chiari I malformation before surgical intervention.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Results of completed questionnaire.


RESULTS
Sixteen consecutive patients with Chiari I malformation completed the self-administered questionnaire. Eighty-one percent of patients reported episodic aural fullness, 81% reported tinnitus, 69% reported vertigo, and 56% reported fluctuating hearing loss. Headaches were reported as frequently as aural fullness and tinnitus.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with Chiari I malformation have symptoms that mimic primary otologic pathologic changes. The existence of common pathophysiologic mechanisms is proposed.
Sperling
N M
NM
Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York-Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA.
Franco
R A
RA
Milhorat
T H
TH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis*