Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage in children

Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhages are a rare but often fatal occurrence in children. Although there are several predisposing factors such as blood dyscrasias or astrocytomas, the most common cause of cerebellar hemorrhage in an otherwise healthy child is the rupture of a vascular malformation. We reviewed the files of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York and found four such instances over a period of less than two years. We present these here and outline the approach the forensic pathologist should take in evaluating such deaths.