title: Chiari malformations: An important cause of pediatric aspiration.
abstract: Chronic aspiration poses a major health risk to the pediatric population. We describe four cases in which work up for chronic aspiration with a brain MRI revealed a Chiari I malformation, a poorly described etiology of pediatric aspiration. All patients had at least one non-specific neurologic symptom but had swallow studies more characteristic of an anatomic than a neurologic etiology. Patients were referred to neurosurgery and underwent posterior fossa decompression with symptom improvement. A high index of suspicion for Chiari malformation should be maintained when the standard work up for aspiration is non-diagnostic, particularly when non-specific neurologic symptoms are present.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: Jennifer_Fuller@MEEI.HARVARD.EDU.
authors: Jennifer C
authors: JC
authors: Fuller
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Sumi
authors: S
authors: Sinha
authors: Department of Radiology, Massachuesetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Caruso
authors: Pediatric Airway, Voice and Swallowing Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary - Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Cheryl J
authors: CJ
authors: Hersh
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Butler
authors: Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Kalpathy S
authors: KS
authors: Krishnamoorthy
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Hartnick
mesh_terms: D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012008:Recurrence; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Chiari malformation; Chronic aspiration; Pediatric