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Hemihypertrophy and the Chiari I malformation
R Shane Tubbs1, Matthew D Smyth, John C Wellons
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. richard.tubbs@ccc.uab.edu
Pediatric Neurosurgery
|April 11, 2003
Insights
Two children with hemihypertrophy and Chiari I malformation (CIM) suggest a link between overgrowth disorders and CIM. This association may stem from a shared developmental origin in the mesoderm.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Genetics
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Chiari I malformation (CIM) is a hindbrain anomaly.
- Overgrowth disorders involve disproportionate body growth.
- The co-occurrence of CIM and hemihypertrophy is rare.
Observation:
- Two pediatric cases presented with both hemihypertrophy and Chiari I malformation.
- A review of existing literature on CIM and overgrowth disorders was conducted.
Findings:
- The study proposes that hemihypertrophy and Chiari I malformation are not coincidental.
- A shared dysembryology of the mesoderm is hypothesized as the underlying cause.
Implications:
- This finding suggests a potential common etiological pathway for CIM and certain overgrowth conditions.
- Further research into mesodermal development may elucidate shared mechanisms.
- Clinical awareness of this association could aid in diagnosing related conditions.
Abstract:
We report two children with hemihypertrophy and Chiari I malformation (CIM) and review the extant medical literature regarding CIM and overgrowth disorders. We propose that these two entities do not represent a spurious association but rather share a common dysembryology of mesoderm.