Thrive by IU Health

October 03, 2024

College student's headaches lead to Chiari malformation diagnosis

College student's headaches lead to Chiari malformation diagnosis

Kimberly Batten was a freshman in college when she began experiencing debilitating headaches. After other treatment options failed, Kimberly’s primary care doctor referred her to IU Health, where an MRI led to a definitive diagnosis- Chiari malformation. “Chiari malformations are when a part of the brain dangles below the opening of the base of the skull and one of the symptoms is tussive headaches,” said Angela Richardson, Kimberly’s neurosurgeon. “Kimberly’s symptoms that she described were very classic for the type of symptoms someone with Chiari malformation would have that are helped by surgery.”