J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2002 Oct;32(4):384-386.

Transient Cerebellar Mutism after Total Removal of Medulloblastoma in a Child: Case Report

• Kong CB
• Choi KB
• Kim HD

Abstract

Transient mutism resolving to cerebellar speech after posterior fossa surgery is a well recognized phenomenon, particularly in pediatric patients. The anatomic basis for this postoperative functional change is unclear, but may reside in the dominant superior cerebellar hemisphere or the medial deep cerebellar nuclei. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy who presented for surgical resection of a medulloblastoma. Preoperatively, his complaint consisted of headache, nausea, vomiting and cerebellar ataxia. He had normal speech. At one day after operation, suddenly he was unable to speech, however, communication through a variety of verbal cues, including sign language was possible. His mutism lasted 12 days and cerebellar dysarthria was slowly resolved.

Keyword

Mutism; Cerebellar dysarthria; Posterior fossa surgery; Medulloblastoma

MeSH Terms

Cerebellar Ataxia
Cerebellar Nuclei
Child*
Cues
Dysarthria
Headache
Humans
Male
Medulloblastoma*
Mutism*
Nausea
Sign Language
Vomiting