[Cerebellar hemorrhage and cerebellar infarct: retrospective study of 125 cases]

In a retrospective study of 125 patients, symptoms, diagnosis, and clinical course of 64 cases of cerebellar infarction and 61 cerebellar hemorrhage were studied retrospectively. Neurologically, cerebellar signs were present in 50% of hemorrhages and 7%, of infarctions, while 50% of patients with cerebellar hemorrhage and 37% of patients with cerebellar infarction showed brain stem symptoms or cranial nerve deficits; at least slight disturbance of consciousness was present in all patients. The state of consciousness, as estimated by the Innsbruck Coma Scale, together with diagnostic imaging (CT and/or MRT) allowed precise indication for surgical intervention. Over-all lethality was 11% for cerebellar infarction, and 31%, for cerebellar hemorrhage. Comparison of clinical outcome and state of consciousness at time of surgery suggests, that decompressive craniotomy should be performed even in deeply comatose patients with signs of decerebration.