Table 1.
Descriptions of prevalent conditions.
| Condition | Description | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| Syringomyelia (SM) | Development of a fluid-filled cyst in the spinal cord that has been attributed to a smaller posterior cranial fossa. | Sahuquillo et al., 1994 Depreitere et al., 2000 Yan et al., 2016 Thompson et al., 2016 |
| Pseudotumor cerebri | Syndrome associated with elevated intracranial hypertension (ICP) with no radiographic evidence of a mass or lesion in the brain. Pseudotumor cerebri has been postulated to be due to an obstruction of CSF flow at the FM and a smaller PCF volume. Pseudotumor cerebri is also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension. | Banik et al., 2006 Galgano and Deshaies, 2013 Roller et al., 2015 |
| Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) | A condition that encompasses a wide variety of connective tissue disorders that have an association with CMI. Such disorders include joint hypermobility, recurrent joint dislocations, poor wound healing, tendon and muscle rupture, vascular fragility, easy bruising, and arterial rupture. | Milhorat et al., 2007 |
| Scoliosis | Characterized by an abnormal curvature or rotation of the spine. Spine curvature direction has been associated with asymmetrically displaced tonsils. A co-existing diagnosis of scoliosis with CMI has shown an atypical curve compared to idiopathic scoliosis. Surgical intervention for CMI has been associated with the stabilization of spinal curvature. | Zhu et al., 2016 Brockmeyer et al., 2003 |
| Craniocervical instability (CCI) | Classified as excessive motion between adjacent cervical vertebrae. CCI may result from abnormal development of bone or ligaments, or increasing ligamentous laxity associated with connective tissue disorders. Symptoms include neck pain or weakness in the neck. | Steilen et al., 2014 Wills and Dormans, 2006 |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) | A syndrome characterized by debilitating fatigue for more than 6 months. Frequent symptoms include muscle pain, multi-joint pain, and impaired memory or concentration. | Garland and Robertson, 2001 |
| Fibromyalgia | A condition characterized as chronic body-wide pain with the absence of an inflammatory response or a degenerative musculoskeletal disorder. Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia exhibit additional symptoms similar, or identical to, those characterized by CMI diagnosis. | Garland and Robertson, 2001 Heffez et al., 2004 Watson et al., 2011 |
| Raynaud phenomenon | A nerve disease which occurs due to episodic vasospasms of the finger and toes when exposed to cold temperatures. | Block and Sequeira, 2001 |
| Migraine headaches | Poorly understood phenomena consisting of recurring severe headaches and vision changes. Migraine headaches in CMI patients have been postulated to result from craniospinal pressure dissociation and dysfunction within the brainstem. | Kaplan and Oksuz, 2008 |
| Sleep Apnea | A sleep related disorder which presents as either central or obstructive. Central sleep apnea occurs when the respiratory center drive fails to operate. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to closure of the pharyngeal airway caused by suction pressure that is created during inspiration and inadequate muscle tone. | Arcaya et al., 1993 |
CMI morphometric studies are bolded.