J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1996 Dec;25(12):2496-2501.

Transient Mutism following Resection of 4th Ventricle Choroid Plexus Papilloma in a 6-Year-Old Girl

• Hwang GH
• Kim TY
• Kim JM

Abstract

Transient mutism has ben known as a rare complication following a posterior fossa approach to cerebellar tumors, although its pathophysiology remains unclear. Cerebellar mutism may be defined as a transient mutism occurring after a posterior fossa tumor approach in children with unimpaired consciousness, unimpaired symbolic functions, no detectable deficit of cranial nerves or peripheral organs of speech, and no lesions of long pathways in the course of the cranial nerves at the level of the brain stem. Forty two cases in children, and only two cases in adults have been found in the literature. We report a case of transient mutism with oropharyngeal apraxia after total excision of 4th ventricle choroids plexus papilloma in a 6-year-old girl. Postoperatively, the patient became mute and refused food intake without disturbance of consciousness, or lower cranial nerve function. Computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance image(MRI) demonstrated no abnormal findings except the surgical lesion in the posterior fossa. The mutism lasted for 3 weeks, but she gradually became fluent. The mechanism of "cerebellar mutism" is briefly discussed with literature review.

Keyword

Mutism; Posterior fossa tumor; Choroid plexus papilloma; 4th ventricle; Oropharyngeal apraxia

MeSH Terms

Adult
Apraxias
Brain Stem
Cerebellar Neoplasms
Child*
Choroid Plexus*
Choroid*
Consciousness
Cranial Nerves
Eating
Female*
Humans
Infratentorial Neoplasms
Mutism*
Papilloma
Papilloma, Choroid Plexus*