Abstract
Background
Acute cerebellitis is an inflammatory process commonly involving both cerebellar hemispheres. Bilateral cerebellar hemisphere involvement is the most common finding. Acute hemicerebellitis in childhood is an extremely rare unilateral presentation of cerebellitis mimicking a tumor. Its etiology is unknown, although an inflammatory or post infectious origin is presumed. Its clinical outcome is generally good and a self-limited evolution. Clinical improvement and regression of the pathological findings in serial MRI will help differentiate acute hemicerebellitis from a neoplastic process.
Case presentation
We present a case of hemicerebellitis in a 7-year-old girl, presenting with severe headache, projectile vomiting, and mixed neuropsychiatric manifestation. MRI of the brain revealed a unilateral cerebellar involvement.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sawaishi Y, Takada G (2002) Acute cerebellitis. Cerebellum 1:223–228
Horowitz MB, Pang D, Hirsh W (1991–1992) Acute cerebellitis: case report and review. Pediatr Neurosurg 17:142–145
Sékhara T, Christophe C, Christiaens F, Dan B (2001) Postinfectious hemicerebellitis. Rev Neurol (Paris) 157(1):84–86
Rodríguez-Cruz PM, Janet-Signoret S, Miranda-Herrero MC, Barredo-Valderrama E, Vázquez-López M, Ruiz-Martín Y et al (2013) Acute hemicerebellitis in children: case report and review of literature. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 17(5):447–453
Morais RB, Sousa I, Leiria MJ, Marques C, Ferreira JC, Cabral P (2013) Pseudotumoral acute hemicerebellitis in a child. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 17(2):204–207
Montenegro MA, Santos SL, Li LM, Cendes F (2002) Neuroimaging of acute cerebellitis. J Neuroimaging 12:72–74
De Bruecker Y, Claus F, Demaerel P, Ballaux F, Sciot R, Lagae L et al (2004) MRI findings in acute cerebellitis. Eur Radiol 14:1478–1483
Bakshi R, Bates VE, Kinkel PR et al (1998) Magnetic resonance imaging findings in acute cerebellitis. Clin Imaging 22:79–85
Garcia-Cazorla A, Olivan JA, Pancho C, Sans A, Boix C, Campistol J (2004) Infectious acute hemicerebellitis. J Child Neurol 19:390–392
Usano A, Torres J, Jadraque R, Avilla JM, Collado E (2000) Acute unilateral cerebellar ataxia: a case report. Rev Neurol 30:698–699
Jabbour P, Samaha E, Abi Lahoud G, Koussa S, Abadjian G, Nohra G et al (2003) Hemicerebellitis mimicking a tumour on MRI. Childs Nerv Syst 19:122–125
Iester A, Alpigiani MG, Franzone G, Cohen A, Puleo MG, Tortori-Donati P (1995) Magnetic resonance imaging in right hemisphere cerebellitis associated with homolateral hemiparesis. Childs Nerv Syst 11:118–120
Omeis IA, Khoshyomn S, Braff SP, Maugans TA (2002) Idiopathic lymphocytic cerebellitis. Pediatr Neurosurg 36:52–53
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
Authors have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Elsayed, R.M., Sayyah, H.E. Acute hemicerebellitis in a child: a case report of a rare neuropsychiatric disorder. Childs Nerv Syst 33, 547–548 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-016-3282-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-016-3282-0