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Cerebellar mutism after basilar artery occlusion--case report
M Nishikawa1, M Komiyama, H Sakamoto
1Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka City General Hospital.
Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica
|November 7, 1998
Summary
A rare case of cerebellar mutism occurred after a stroke caused by surgical injury. This condition, characterized by speech difficulties, gradually improved over three months.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Cerebellar mutism is a rare condition typically associated with cerebellar strokes.
- Surgical complications can lead to cerebrovascular events, including arterial injury.
Observation:
- A 30-year-old female developed a basilar artery occlusion secondary to surgical injury of the vertebral artery during neurinoma removal.
- The patient presented with coma, followed by consciousness recovery and subsequent severe ataxic dysarthria (cerebellar mutism) without cranial nerve deficits.
Findings:
- Treatment with local fibrinolysis via microcatheter successfully addressed the basilar artery occlusion.
- The patient's cerebellar mutism gradually improved over three months, suggesting a link to ischemic stroke and potential hypoperfusion of the cerebellum and brainstem.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential, albeit uncommon, cause of cerebellar mutism resulting from iatrogenic vertebral artery injury.
- Understanding the pathogenesis of cerebellar mutism in non-stroke related injuries may inform future clinical management and research.
- Cerebellar mutism, even when severe, can show significant recovery, offering hope for patients with similar neurological deficits.