title: Histological study of the occipital bone from patients with Chiari I malformation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study is focused on the histologic characteristics of occipital bone removed during Chiari I decompression in the hope of discovering unique features that may be related to the pathogenesis of this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutive pediatric patients with Chiari I malformation underwent standard posterior fossa decompression surgery. Bone that was removed from the posterior fossa was sent for histological examination. Bone from age-matched controls also underwent histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all study and control specimens, bony samples were found to be made up of dense lamellar bone without marrow elements. In all aspects, histologically, the bone tissue had a normal appearance compared to control samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although many authors have mentioned that the occipital bone in patients with Chiari I malformation is abnormal on imaging or at operation (e.g., thinned, thickened), based on our study, there is no histological difference between the occipital bone removed at operation and controls.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA. shane.tubbs@childrensal.org.|, 1600 7th Ave S, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA. shane.tubbs@childrensal.org.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Annie Laurie
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Benzie
authors.affiliation: Neurological Surgery, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurosurgery Associates, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chern
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: W Jerry
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oakes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Development; Embryology; Hindbrain hernia; Posterior fossa; Skull