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Male Predisposition in Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome: a Cohort Study

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between sex and cerebellar mutism syndrome and to examine other potential risk factors. This ambispective cohort study examined 218 pediatric patients (132 boys) with a posterior fossa tumor who underwent tumor resection from July 2013 to March 2021. The patients’ demographics and tumor characteristics were examined and statistically analyzed to explore the associations among the variables. Multivariable and subgroup analyses were conducted to validate the independent risk factors for cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS). The male and female patients did not differ significantly in terms of age, tumor size, tumor location, tumor consistency, VP shunt placement before resection, extent of resection, or surgeon, as well as with respect to the presence of hydrocephalus or paraventricular edema. The overall incidence of CMS was 32.6%. The incidence of CMS was significantly higher in male patients than that in female patients (41.7% vs. 18.6%; P = 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, male sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.27; P = 0.001), solid tumor consistency (adjusted OR, 5.61; P = 0.001), midline location (adjusted OR, 3.78; P = 0.004), and hydrocephalus (adjusted OR, 2.56; P = 0.047) were independent risk factors for the CMS. Chi-square analysis revealed that solid tumor consistency and midline location were associated with medulloblastoma (P < 0.001). Male patients had a higher risk of developing CMS after a posterior fossa tumor resection. Midline location, solid tumor consistency, and hydrocephalus were independent risk factors for CMS.

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Data Availability

Data is available at request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Yaguang Peng, who guided us in the statistical analysis.

Funding

This study was funded by Beijing Hospital’s Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding (code: XMLX202144).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, No.56 Nanlishilu, West District, Beijing, 100045, China

    Wei Yang, Ming Ge, Jiashu Chen, Ping Yang, Yingjie Cai, XiaoJiao Peng, Jia Wang, Hailang Sun, Yuanqi Ji & Fengmao Zhao

  2. Department of Neonatology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, 100045, China

    Kaiyi Zhu

  3. Department of Imaging Center, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing, 100045, China

    Hong Zhang

Authors
  1. Wei Yang
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  2. Ming Ge
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  3. Kaiyi Zhu
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  4. Jiashu Chen
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  5. Ping Yang
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  11. Fengmao Zhao
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  12. Hong Zhang
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Wei Yang, Ming Ge

Methodology: Wei Yang, Kaiyi Zhu

Formal analysis and investigation: Jiashu Chen, Ping Yang, Yingjie Cai, Xiaojiao Peng, Jia Wang

Writing–original draft preparation: Wei Yang

Writing–review and editing: Wei Yang, Kaiyi Zhu

Funding acquisition: Ming Ge

Supervision: Ming Ge

Resources: Hailang Sun, Yuanqi Ji, Fengmao Zhao, Hong Zhang

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming Ge.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics Approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Children’s Hospital (Beijing, China, grant number: [2021]-E-024-Y).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Yang, W., Ge, M., Zhu, K. et al. Male Predisposition in Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome: a Cohort Study. Cerebellum 22, 730–738 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-022-01449-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-022-01449-6

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