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Multiple large and small cerebellar infarcts
1Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|May 18, 1999
Summary
Multiple small cerebellar infarcts are common, often occurring in specific arterial territories like the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and superior cerebellar artery (SCA). Large artery disease is a frequent cause.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Multiple cerebellar infarcts are a recognized but not fully understood stroke subtype.
- Understanding their topographical distribution and causes is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical, topographical, and etiological characteristics of multiple cerebellar infarcts.
- To investigate the occurrence and nature of very small multiple cerebellar infarcts.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 18 patients with multiple cerebellar infarcts from a prospective acute stroke registry.
- Standard investigation protocol including MRI and magnetic resonance angiography.
Main Results:
- Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) + superior cerebellar artery (SCA) territories were most commonly affected (50%).
- Very small multiple cerebellar infarcts (<2 cm) were frequently observed (72%), occurring with or without territorial infarcts.
- Large artery disease was the primary etiology.
Conclusions:
- Multiple small cerebellar infarcts are common and can occur within or between major cerebellar arterial territories.
- These infarcts may represent endzone infarcts due to distal arterial branch involvement or potentially microembolic events.
- Further pathological studies are needed to confirm the microembolic hypothesis.