Neuroradiology Assesses Chiari Malformation's Impact on Airways, Cranial Base, and Sleep Disorders in Children.

Quantitative Neuroradiological Assessment of the Airways, Cranial Base Foramina, and Posterior Cranial Fossae in Children with Chiari Malformation: Relationship with Sleep Disorders

The severity of sleep disorders in patients with Chiari malformations can vary. The investigators propose to establish a correlation between the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and the quantitative neuroradiological data of the airways, cranial base foramina, and posterior cranial fossae

Primary objective of the study is the evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in two distinct pediatric populations of patients with Chiari Malformation Type 1 (CM-I) and Chiari Malformation Type 2 (CM-II).

Secondary objectives:

Stratify the presence of SDB into central and obstructive origins in the two study populations.

Assess the volume of posterior cranial fossae, airway volume, and area of cranial base foramina in both groups.

Determine the relationships between SDB and morphological-quantitative anomalies associated with CM.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children (males or females) aged between 3 years and 18 years.
• Clinical diagnosis of Chiari malformation 1 and 2.
• Presence of informed consent for the initial clinical evaluation. The investigators commit to providing appropriate informational sheets to the parents of the patients (for those included in the study) during the initial clinical evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chiari Malformation I and II associated with neurological diseases or craniofacial malformations.
• Cranial trauma or cardiac arrest.
• Administration of centrally acting medications within 2 weeks prior to the study, except for antiepileptic treatment for patients who have had seizures.
• Associated brain and cranial base tumors.
• Refusal to sign the informed consent for the initial clinical evaluation. The investigators commit to providing appropriate informational sheets to the parents of the patients (for those included in the study) during the initial clinical evaluation.