I had decompression surgery for Arnold Chiari in 2003. I just recently had MRi that states i have low-lying cerebellar tonsils cosistant with tonsillar ectopia and minimal mucosal thickening in paranasal sinus and also mucousal thickening/retained fluid in a few mastoid air cells bilaterally. Does this mean my Chiari is back.
Hi and thanks for the query, I would reassure you it does not mean in any way the malformation is back. Generally, the malformations is generally accompanied by these features described in the MRI. Patients with corrected Chiara, even with these features do live normal lives, with these features causing no major clinical signs nor symptoms. Depending on the intensity of symptoms, a second surgical intervention could be programmed. This has nothing however to do with recurrence of the Chiara syn Chat Doctor.  Your neurosurgeons physical examination and the symptoms you present with will guide the treatment approach. Kind regards. Bain LE, MD