CHIARI MALFORMATION. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT DISEASE AND HISTORY OF DISCOVERY

Chiari malformation is a congenital anomaly of the hindbrain and is characterized by descent of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum with compression of the medulla oblongata and the development of specific neurological symptoms. The whole concept of these malformations arose towards the end of the 19th century from the original descriptions by the German pathologist, Professor Hans Chiari (1851–1916), of changes in the cerebellum resulting from cerebral hydrocephalus. He also classified Arnold-Chiari malformations into 4 types. The aim of this study was reviewing of the literature and discussion of the anatomical forms, classification and history of the discovery of Chiari malformation.