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Article in Japanese
Abstract
Case Report
A case of Chiari type I malformation with severe central sleep apnea
Chie Kogaa,* Shiroh Miuraa Kuniki Kawaguchia Munetake Yoshitomib Hisaaki Uchikadob Tomoaki Hoshinoa
aDivision of Respirology, Neurology, and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine
bDepartment of Neurosurgery, Kurume University School of Medicine
*Present address: Department of Internal Medicine, Social Insurance Kurume Daiichi Hospital
ABSTRACT
We describe a 14-year-old girl who presented with complaints of snoring, sleep apnea, and daytime weariness and headache. Neurological examination revealed no abnormalities, but polysomnography demonstrated severe central sleep apnea. Sagittal magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the posterior fossa. The patient was diagnosed as having Chiari type I malformation with severe central sleep apnea and immediately underwent foramen magnum decompression. Four days after the operation, the daytime weariness and headaches were resolved. After three months, polysomnography demonstrated a marked decrease in apnea and hypopnea index from 92.8 to 24.2. This case suggests that it is important to consider Chiari malformation in patients with central sleep apnea but with no other neurological symptoms.
KEYWORDS
Sleep apnea syndrome Chiari malformation Magnetic resonance image Foramen magnum decompression
Received 12 Sep 2011 ／ Accepted 18 Apr 2012
AJRS, 1(7): 548-552, 2012
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