Chiari Type I Malformation Presenting with Unilateral Hearing Loss

Abstract

Introduction Chiari type I malformations can present in different ways, but the most frequent symptom is an occipitocervical headache. Hearing loss as the main presenting symptom is rare.

Case A young woman with progressive left-sided unilateral hearing loss was diagnosed with a Chiari type I malformation. She underwent a suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy and duraplasty. The hearing loss had resolved postoperatively with normalization of the audiometry.

Conclusion Chiari type I malformation can present solely with hearing loss. Improvement after surgical decompression is possible. This phenomenon is not emphasized well enough within the neurologic community. In this report, we present a summary of the pathophysiology and management in Chiari type I malformations.

Keywords

chiari - hearing loss - decompression

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 29. Oktober 2020

Angenommen: 16. Dezember 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
07. Juni 2021

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