Type II Chiari malformation is typically associated with a condition called myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida in which the spinal cord and its protective covering, the meninges, protrude through an opening in the spinal column. In Type II Chiari malformation, both the cerebellum and the brainstem are displaced downward into the spinal canal. Type II Chiari malformation is more severe than Type I Chiari malformation and is often diagnosed during infancy or early childhood due to the presence of visible spinal abnormalities associated with myelomeningocele.
Symptoms of Type II Chiari malformation may include The buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, difficulty swallowing, breathing difficulties, weakness or paralysis, and scoliosis.