-To Present the definition, classification, radiological diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of malformations of the craniocervical junction -To review the relationship of syringomylia and tonsillar descente to the presence of scoliosis in patients with CM-I-associated syringomylia -To evaluate the role of craniovertebral junction (CVJ) characteristics as additional risk factors for scoliosis -To Review the different classifications of the Chiari malformation, syringomyelia and scoliosis.

-Introduction: Among the malformations of the cranio-cervical junction due to its frequency of presentation and the severity of the symptoms, the Chiari syndrome type I Fig. 1 and syringomyelia Fig. 3 stand out. The Chiari type I malformation (CM-I) is a malformation of the development of the occipital mesodermal somites. The most extreme form is the herniation of structures of the lower portion of the cerebellum, cerebellar tonsils and brainstem through the foramen magnum, reaching even the spinal canal. In addition, (CM-I) is often associated...

Radiological diagnosis: MRI Although historically visible on myelography, cross-sectional imaging (especially MRI) is needed to diagnose accurately and assess for Chiari I malformations, for that reason the technique of choice is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Fig. 9 In either case, the diagnosis is made by measuring how far the tonsils protrude below the margins of the foramen magnum. The distance is measured by drawing a line from the inner margins foramen magnum, and measuring the inferior...

Radiologists play a fundamental role in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with malformations in the craniocervial junction. There are multiple techniques as MRI, CT and even x-ray that can be helpful to make an effective, safe and complete diagnosis. Radiologists must be able to recognize these findings in order to perform an accurate diagnosis taking into account that the MRI must be an angular piece in the diagnosis

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