[Space-occupying cerebellar infarcts: surgical or conservative treatment?]

Space-occupying cerebellar infarcts (SOCI) make up a subgroup within the ischemic pathologies of the brain which are generally well tolerated clinically and usually respond well to medical treatment. Yet, in some cases, due to their volume and localisation, they can be accompanied by a progressive deterioration that requires surgical treatment. We report the clinical cases of two patients with SOCI that illustrate both therapeutic alternatives.

We describe the case of a 65-year-old male patient with vertiginous syndrome, inability to walk and headache. Computerised axial tomography (CAT) scanning showed a SOCI in the left hemisphere that displaced the 4th ventricle, effaced the cisterns and gave rise to the hydrocephalus. The patient improved clinically with medical treatment and a week later was able to walk unaided. We also describe the case of a 75-year-old female patient with symptoms of deterioration in the level of consciousness. CAT and magnetic resonance scans showed an extensive SOCI in the right hemisphere with displacement of the 4th ventricle, effacement of the perimesencephalic cisterns and triventricular hydrocephalus. A suboccipital craniectomy was performed, along with excision of any necrotic material and duroplasty. At 24 h the patient expressed herself coherently and followed orders. She presented ataxia and dysmetry on the right-hand side following the operation, which were compensated with rehabilitating therapy.

Our clinical case reports illustrate the alternatives available when dealing with patients with cerebellar infarct that show expanding clinical-radiological characteristics. These patients must be carefully controlled because of the risk of clinical deterioration, in which case timely surgical intervention can increase their survival.