title: Chiari malformation type I with cervicothoracic syringomyelia masquerading as bibrachial amyotrophy: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical presentation of syringomyelia can mimic a variety of neuromuscular disorders. A misdiagnosis can result in progressive pressure on the spinal cord, causing the development of severe irreversible neurologic deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the very unusual case of a 50-year-old Latino man who developed severe distal muscle atrophy and bulbar dysfunction as a result of Chiari malformation type I with chronic cervicothoracic syringomyelia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Syringomyelia is a potentially serious neurologic condition with symptoms that can mimic other neuromuscular disorders. Severe untreated cases can result in irreversible spinal cord injury. Prompt diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging is important in both establishing diagnosis and directing further surgical management.
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, Neuromuscular Division, University of Southern California, 1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 3000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. jeffmora@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles County Medical Center, 1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 3000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. rison@usc.edu.|Department of Neurology, PIH Health Hospital-Whittier, 12401 Washington Boulevard, Whittier, California, 90602, USA. rison@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rison
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles County Medical Center, University of Southern California, 1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 3000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. sbeydoun@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Said R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beydoun
mesh_terms: D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*