Acute cerebellar hemorrhage in childhood: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Four cases of acute cerebellar hemorrhage in childhood are reported. Two were related to the rupture of arteriovenous malformations, one was a hemorrhage within a cerebellar tumor, and one (in a neonate) was of an undetermined etiology. Three of the cases were treated surgically, whereas the neonatal hemorrhage was managed medically. The latter case seems to be the only reported case of acute cerebellar hemorrhage in childhood that resolved spontaneously. Computed tomographpy proved to be invaluable in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of the patients. Although surgical treatment is indicated when identifiable lesions cause the hemorrhage, nonsurgical approaches may be satisfactory when lesions are not discernible. Our cases, in addition to those reported previously, suggest a better prognosis for children than for adults with acute cerebellar hemorrhage, regardless of the etiology.