Abstract
This report presents a case of Arnold-Chiari malformation mainly manifesting as vertigo that was seen recently at our department. The patient was a 23-year-old man presenting with the chief complaint of vertigo. Around December 2006, the patient began experiencing a sensation of spinning when he looked to the right, and similar symptoms were occasionally and transiently noted thereafter when looking to the right. The patient visited a nearby clinic, where a head MRI revealed no abnormal findings. However, since the symptoms persisted, the patient visited our department on February 22, 2007. On initial examination, vertical downbeat nystagmus was detected. Then, the findings on electronystagmography and head MRI led to the diagnosis of Arnold-Chiari malformation. The present case report highlights the need for further detailed examination in patients with spontaneous vertical downbeat nystagmus, bearing in mind the possibility of Arnold-Chiari malformation.
