title: Cerebellar mutism associated with a midbrain cavernous malformation. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The authors report a case of cerebellar mutism arising from a hemorrhagic midbrain cavernous malformation in a 14-year-old boy. No cerebellar lesion was identified; however, edema of the dorsal midbrain was noted on postoperative magnetic resonance images. Dysarthric speech spontaneously returned and then completely resolved to normal speech. This case provides further evidence for the theory that involvement of the dentatothalamic tracts, and not a cerebellar lesion per se, is the underlying cause of "cerebellar" mutism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and The Children's Hospital, Denver 80262, USA.
authors.forename: Marjorie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ken R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Winston
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Breeze
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009155:Mutism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology