Favorable Outcomes in a Rare Case of Chiari Malformation Type III: A Clinical Report

TL;DR

A young child with a rare and severe brain condition called Chiari malformation type III showed a positive recovery after surgery.

Contribution

This case report highlights a favorable outcome in a rare Chiari malformation type III case following neurosurgical intervention.

Findings

The patient had a bony defect and herniation consistent with Chiari malformation type III.

Despite the condition's typically poor prognosis, the patient showed favorable outcomes after surgery.

The case emphasizes the potential for positive post-surgical results in this rare condition.

Abstract

This report details the case of a 1-year and 11-month-old Filipino female patient who presented with a persistent occipital mass that was soft, non-tender, mobile, and lit through upon transillumination. A neurological test revealed a global developmental delay. Neuroimaging revealed a bony defect at the posterior cranial fossa with herniation of the occipital lobe, cerebrospinal fluid, and the meninges, consistent with Chiari malformation type III, a rare and severe form accounting for less than 1% of Chiari malformations. While this condition typically carries a poor prognosis, the patient showed a favorable outcome following neurosurgical intervention.

We present this case to share our clinical experience with this exceedingly rare condition and highlight its potential for positive post-surgical outcomes.

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