Cough Syncope, a Rare Presenting Symptom of Chiari I Malformation and Atlanto-Occipital Assimilation
  • Inês Carrilho Oliveira
    Pulmonology Department, Hospital Egas Moniz – Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Joana Carvalho
    Pulmonology Department, Hospital Egas Moniz – Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
  • Luisa Oliveira
    Pulmonology Department, Hospital Egas Moniz – Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal

Keywords

Cough, syncope, Chiari I malformation, atlanto-occipital assimilation

Abstract

Chiari I malformation and atlanto-occipital assimilation are both fairly uncommon conditions. Symptoms usually present during adolescence or adulthood, typically consisting of headache or neck pain. Cough-associated syncope is an unusual presenting symptom. The diagnosis of this condition in a pulmonology department is even rarer.
We report the case of a 62-year-old male referred to our pulmonology department due to complaints of cough-associated syncope. After several examinations, a pharyngeal CT scan incidentally showed low positioning of the cerebellar tonsils. Cerebral MRI confirmed the diagnosis of Chiari I malformation and atlanto-occipital assimilation and the patient was effectively treated with surgical decompression.

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    Published: 2020-02-25
    Issue: 2020: Vol 7 No 4 (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Oliveira IC, Carvalho J, Oliveira L. Cough Syncope, a Rare Presenting Symptom of Chiari I Malformation and Atlanto-Occipital Assimilation. EJCRIM 2020;7 doi:10.12890/2020_001466.

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