Abstract

3-year-old healthy female child with new onset of sleep disordered breathing consistent with extensive pattern of periodic breathing diagnosed by polysomnogram study. As periodic breathing is indicative of immaturity of respiratory control and the possibility of hindbrain malformation or other significant pathology, subsequent MRI was obtained and showed Chiari Type 1 Malformation. Scoring of periodic breathing pattern beyond infancy in the sleep centers using the American Academy of sleep medicine scoring manual guidelines is of great importance and may warrant further evaluation with MRI for neurological etiologies including Chiari Type 1 malformation.