Impacted cisterna magna without syringomyelia associated with spastic paraparesis: case report

Abstract

We report on a 49 year old man with impacted cisterna magna without the presence of syringohydromyelie (SM). The clinical picture was characterized by spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging depicted a cisterna magna filled by the cerebellar tonsils. Six months after osteodural-neural decompression of the posterior fossa there was resolution of neurological symptoms and signs with the exception of hyperactive patellar and Achilles reflexes.

Keywords

• tight cisterna magna
• impacted cisterna magna
• Chiari malformation
• posterior fossa decompression
• spastic paraparesis