[Natural history, treatment and outcome of cerebellar softening (author's transl)]

21 adults with acute cerebellar softening were divided into two groups. In the first group (6 patients) the clinical course was progressive with deterioration of consciousness, signs of brain-stem compression and some degree of enlargement of ventricles (CT scan). Of these patients, three were treated surgically with success, one recovered spontaneously and two others died post-operatively. In the second group (15 patients) the course was much more favourable. Without surgery the cerebellar symptoms and signs improved, in spite of the persistence of discrete cerebellar signs one month after the onset of symptoms. Medical and/or surgical treatment of the disease are discussed, including the differential diagnostic aspects as well as the CT scan features.