Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Management of acute cerebellar stroke.

Jensen MB, St Louis EK

Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, 52242, USA.

Acute cerebellar infarction or hemorrhage may initially manifest in a clinically indolent manner only to later deteriorate into a life-threatening neurologic catastrophe. At the other end of the spectrum, some patients with cerebellar stroke may present in a moribund comatose state. In both patient groups, it is often unclear at what point surgical intervention should be considered either to prevent further neurologic deterioration or to try to salvage a meaningful neurologic recovery. In this review, we present clinical cases that illustrate decision points in the management of patients with acute cerebellar stroke, with emphasis on clinical and imaging characteristics. We conclude with an analysis of clinical decision making in the management of patients with space-occupying cerebellar stroke. The management of acute cerebellar infarction or hemorrhage often requires difficult and prompt decisions by treating neurologists, and certain easily identifiable clinical and imaging findings may assist in appropriate patient triage and timely neurosurgical intervention.

Published 12 April 2005 in Arch Neurol, 62(4): 537-44.
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