No abstract available.
Foramen Magnum* ; Vertebral Artery*

PURPOSE: To evaluate normal tonsillar position at different ages, using MR images. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We measured the position of the cerebellar tonsils with respect to the inferior aspect of the foramen magnum on middle sagittal MR T1 weight images in 210 patients(9 days to 83 years) who were not considered to have any disorder that would affect tonsillar position. RESULTS: The mean distance between tonsillar tip and inferior aspect of the foramen magnum was 0.0 +/-1.9mm in the first decade of life, 0.7 +/-2.8mm in the fourth decade, and3.4 +/-2.3 mm in the eighth and ninth decades. The tonsillar position is significantly lower in youth(first and second decades) than in old age(seventh to ninth decades). CONCLUSION: We believe that a single reference standard that indicates the normal distance of the cerebellar tonsils from the foramen magnum is inappropriate unless age is considered. We suggest that the following distance below the foramen magnum(more than 2 standard deviations out of the normal range) be used as criteria for ectopia of the cerebellar tonsils in koreans : firstand second decades, 5mm ; third to sixth decades, 4mm ; seventh and eighth decades, 3mm.
Foramen Magnum ; Palatine Tonsil*

No abstract available.
Conus Snail* ; Foramen Magnum* ; Syringomyelia*

No abstract available.
Foramen Magnum ; Meningioma* ; Spinal Canal*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the syringo-subarachnoid shunt for the syringomyelia, according to the clinical outcome and radiological changes. METHODS: Ten patients who underwent syringo-subarachnoid shunt during last 5 years were included in this analysis. The average age at the presentation was 32.6(range 7 to 51) years. Chiari I malformation was found in four patients, Post-infectious syringomyelia was in three patients, and posttraumatic syringomyelia in two patients. The most common presenting symptoms were motor weakness and pain. Radiological diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance image in all patients. All patients underwent syringo-subarachnoid shunt, and in five patients with Chiari I malformation or achondroplasia, foramen magnum decompression was done as well. RESULTS: Eight showed the significant clinical improvement. Remaining two patients showed stabilization of the symptom. The postoperative magnetic resonance image, performed in seven cases, showed the reduction of the syrinx size in all case. There was no shunt malfunction or infection in our series. The transient cerebospinal fluid leakage was noted in three cases. CONCLUSION: It appears that the syringo-subarachnoid shunt is beneficial surgical method for the syringomyelia of various etiologies.
Achondroplasia ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Syringomyelia*

No abstract available.
Foramen Magnum* ; Histiocytosis, Sinus* ; Spinal Cord Compression*

The aim of this study was to produce a simple and inexpensive technique for estimating the obturator foramen area (OFA) from young calves based on the hypothesis that OFA can be extrapolated from simple linear measurements. Three linear measurements - dorsoventral height, craneocaudal width and total perimeter of obturator foramen - were obtained from 55 bovine hemicoxae. Different algorithms for determining OFA were then produced with a regression analysis (curve fitting) and statistical analysis software. The most simple equation was OFA (mm2) = [3,150.538 + (36.111*CW)] - [147,856.033/DH] (where CW = craneocaudal width and DH = dorsoventral height, both in mm), representing a good nonlinear model with a standard deviation of error for the estimate of 232.44 and a coefficient of multiple determination of 0.846. This formula may be helpful as a repeatable and easily performed estimation of the obturator foramen area in young bovines. The area of the obturator foramen magnum can thus be estimated using this regression formula.
Biometry ; Foramen Magnum ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Osteology

Chiari type I malformation is a tonsillar herniation more than 3 mm from the level of foramen magnum, with or without concurrent syringomyelia. Different surgical treatments have been developed for syringomyelia secondary to Chiari's malformations: craniovertebral decompression with or without plugging of the obex, syringo-subarachnoid, syringo-peritoneal, and theco-peritoneal shunt placement. Shunt placement procedures are useful for neurologically symptomatic large-sized syrinx. In this paper, authors define the first successful treatment of a patient with syringomyelia due to Chiari type I malformation using a pre-defined new technique of syringo-subarachnoid-peritoneal shunt with T-tube system.
Decompression ; Encephalocele ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Syringomyelia*

Meningeal tumor obstructing the foramen magnum is relatively rare, moreover occurrence of such a tumor in children has rarely been reported. This tumor shows various characteristic clinical manifestations, partly from anatomical standpoint and partly from unknown mechanism. In addition, not uncommon remitting and relapsing clinical course often presents diagnostic conflicts. We experienced a case of basilar groove meningioma presenting many difficult problems in the diagnosis and treatment, which was confirmed at operation and subsequent autopsy in a child.
Autopsy ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; Meningioma*

Twelve patients were operated upon and diagnosed as syringomyelia at the Department of Neurosurgery of Seoul National University Hospital from July 1983 to June 1987. The etiologies were Chiari malformation(3 cases), arachnoiditis(2 cases), trauma(2 cases), neoplasm(2 cases) and idiopathic(3 cases). Four patients had foramen magnum decompression with 4th ventricle spinal subarachnoid space shunt and/or syringosubarachnoid shunt, and 7 patients underwent syringotomy or syringosubarachnoid shunt. In one case, only tumor removal was done. Functional improvement of the motor disturbance was noted only in 3 cases, in one of whom the result might be the effect of tumor removal. Pain and sensory disturbance responded well with surgery, but sphincter disturbance did not. The clinical, radiological and operative findings were correlated with theories of its pathogenesis. And the results of surgical treatment and some problems in the management of this disease entiry were discussed.
Decompression ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Seoul ; Subarachnoid Space ; Syringomyelia*