Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Elfeky M, Botz B, et al. Low-lying tonsils. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 13 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-58257
Low-lying tonsils, sometimes also called benign tonsillar ectopia, is a subtype of cerebellar tonsillar ectopia denoting asymptomatic and only slight downward descent of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum and is distinct from Chiari I malformations. Typically a descent of less than 3-5 mm is used, however, this varies from author to author, and is discussed further in the article on Chiari I malformation.
Low-lying tonsils are the preferred term over benign tonsillar ectopia as not all individuals with <5 mm tonsillar ectopia are asymptomatic 1.
The terminology of caudally displaced tonsils is discussed in the article on cerebellar tonsillar ectopia.
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1. Furuya K, Sano K, Segawa H, Ide K, Yoneyama H. Symptomatic Tonsillar Ectopia. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 1998;64(2):221-6. doi:10.1136/jnnp.64.2.221 - Pubmed
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2. Jeffrey Leonard. Chiari Malformation, An Issue of Neurosurgery Clinics of North America,. (2016) ISBN: 9780323400930
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3. Elster AD, Chen MY. Chiari I malformations: clinical and radiologic reappraisal. Radiology. 1992;183 (2): 347-53. Radiology (abstract) - Pubmed citation
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