Chiari Malformations Clinical Trial
Official title:
Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Quantitative MR Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Flow Studies in Craniovertebral Junction Anomalies
The purpose of this study is to decide which position of the neck affects cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) flow between the spinal cord and the brain. CSF is a fluid that flows up and down your spinal cord, around the brain and into the ventricles of the brain. This study will be done with patients who have abnormalities of the neck, including Chiari 1 malformations.
In this study, subjects will have a dynamic cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) coupled with CSF flow studies. The studies will assess changes in CSF flow velocities that are associated with with changing position of the neck at the CVJ and aqueduct of Sylvius. Eligible patients include those with Chiari 1 malformations and similar malformations to the CVJ. This malformation lead to inherent instability in this region and symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, neck pain and other neurological problems. This study will determine if there is any correlation of these MRI findings to clinical outcome. ;