Cerebellitis was diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed cerebellar involvement (unilateral or bilateral); computerised tomography images either were normal or showed indirect signs such as triventricular hydrocephalus due to extrinsic compression of the aqueduct of Sylvius. Corticosteroids were the most commonly used treatment (6 patients). One patient required surgery due to triventricular hydrocephalus. Eight patients recovered completely, whereas the ninth displayed neurological sequelae.
Acute cerebellitis in paediatric patients: Our experience
 
  Keywords
 
 
  
   Cerebellitis
  
 
 
  
   Headache
  
 
 
  
   Ataxia
  
 
 
  
   Intracranial hypertension
  
 
 
  
   Triventricular hydrocephalus
  
 
Introduction
Acute cerebellitis is a rare inflammatory disease with a highly variable clinical course that ranges from benign self-limiting symptoms to a fulminant presentation associated with a high risk of death due to compression of the posterior fossa, acute hydrocephalus, and intracranial hypertension.
Methods
We reviewed clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings from children diagnosed with acute cerebellitis between May 2007 and November 2016. 
We analysed treatments and clinical and radiological progression.
Results
Nine children met the diagnostic criteria for cerebellitis. 
Headache, vomiting, and drowsiness were the most frequent initial symptoms; <dis>ataxia</dis>, <dis>dysarthria</dis>, and dysmetria were the most common cerebellar signs. 
Cerebellitis was diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed cerebellar involvement (unilateral or bilateral); computerised tomography images either were normal or showed indirect signs such as triventricular hydrocephalus due to extrinsic compression of the aqueduct of Sylvius. 
Corticosteroids were the most commonly used treatment (6 patients). 
One patient required surgery due to triventricular hydrocephalus. 
Eight patients recovered completely, whereas the ninth displayed neurological sequelae.
Conclusions
Cerebellitis is a medical and surgical emergency; diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion and an emergency brain magnetic resonance imaging study. 
It is a clinical-radiological syndrome characterised by acute or subacute encephalopathy with intracranial hypertension and cerebellar syndrome associated with T2-weighted and FLAIR hyperintensities in the cerebellar cortex (unilaterally or bilaterally) and possible triventricular dilatation. 
Treatment is based on high-dose corticosteroids and may require external ventricular drain placement and decompressive surgery.
Introduction
Acute cerebellitis is a rare inflammatory disease with a highly variable clinical course that ranges from benign self-limiting symptoms to a fulminant presentation associated with a high risk of death due to compression of the posterior fossa, acute hydrocephalus, and intracranial hypertension.
Methods
We reviewed clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings from children diagnosed with acute cerebellitis between May 2007 and November 2016. 
We analysed treatments and clinical and radiological progression.
Results
Nine children met the diagnostic criteria for cerebellitis. 
Headache, vomiting, and drowsiness were the most frequent initial symptoms; ataxia, dysarthria, and dysmetria were the most common cerebellar signs. 
Cerebellitis was diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed cerebellar involvement (unilateral or bilateral); computerised tomography images either were normal or showed indirect signs such as triventricular hydrocephalus due to extrinsic compression of the aqueduct of Sylvius. 
Corticosteroids were the most commonly used treatment (6 patients). 
One patient required surgery due to triventricular hydrocephalus. 
Eight patients recovered completely, whereas the ninth displayed neurological sequelae.
Conclusions
Cerebellitis is a medical and surgical emergency; diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion and an emergency brain magnetic resonance imaging study. 
It is a clinical-radiological syndrome characterised by acute or subacute encephalopathy with intracranial hypertension and cerebellar syndrome associated with T2-weighted and FLAIR hyperintensities in the cerebellar cortex (unilaterally or bilaterally) and possible triventricular dilatation. 
Treatment is based on high-dose corticosteroids and may require external ventricular drain placement and decompressive surgery.
Cerebellitis was diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed cerebellar involvement (unilateral or bilateral); computerised tomography images either were normal or showed indirect signs such as triventricular hydrocephalus due to extrinsic compression of the aqueduct of Sylvius. Corticosteroids were the most commonly used treatment (6 patients). One patient required surgery due to triventricular hydrocephalus. Eight patients recovered completely, whereas the ninth displayed neurological sequelae.