Chiari Malformation

On Friday, we had a patient that was complaining of headaches on the left side. When we scanned a brain with and without contrast the tech I was working with noticed a Chiari malformation, which is where the cerebellar tonsils are being pressed down by the brain. We went over what it was, when it happens (when the brain and skull are developing), and what can happen when you have one. An example is when the malformation presses on the spinal canal and causes a blockage of signals to the brain. It was really interesting to me to see an anomaly like this.

We also scanned orbits, pituitary, a wrist, a knee, a thoracic spine, and a lumbar spine. The thoracic spine was on a patient that had a very high pain tolerance!! His spine looked horrible! There were so many bulging discs and degenerative changes.