[P2-21] Experience of acute cerebellar ataxia and acute cerebellitis in children in a single tertiary medical center
Introduction
Cerebellar ataxia is not rare in children. Most of them have benign courses resulting in complete recovery. Sometimes it can be caused by underlying brain insult including acute cerebellitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or acute encephalitis. This study is aimed to present our experiences with cerebellar ataxia in children, focusing on clinical and diagnostic factors, imaging features, and outcomes.
Subject and Method
Medical records of the patients whose initial impressions were cerebellar ataxia under the age 18 years between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Initially, thirteen subjects were included, but 3 were excluded due to follow-up loss.
Results
Among 10 subjects, six were male (M:F = 1.5:1). Ataxic gait was found in all 10 subjects. Mean age at first visit was 4.3 years (range: 1.33 – 9.98). Recent fever history was present in 8, and four presented fever on admission. Brain MRI abnormalities were found in 3, which showed abnormal signals on cerebellum (two in unilateral dentate nucleus and one in unilateral cerebellar hemisphere). The cause of acute cerebellar ataxia (n=7) was infectious, postinfectious, or vaccination-related. Acute cerebellitis (n=3) involved thalamus (n=1) or spinal cord (n=1). Fever duration and the time to full recovery were longer in a group with MRI abnormality. Mean follow-up duration was 10.6 months (range, 0.23 – 37.2) and clinical symptoms improved without residual neurologic problems.
Conclusion
Acute cerebellar ataxia showed fast recovery. MRI is useful to understand cerebellar pathology. Although the time to full recovery was longer in acute cerebellitis, they also showed full recovery.
Cerebellar ataxia is not rare in children. Most of them have benign courses resulting in complete recovery. Sometimes it can be caused by underlying brain insult including acute cerebellitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or acute encephalitis. This study is aimed to present our experiences with cerebellar ataxia in children, focusing on clinical and diagnostic factors, imaging features, and outcomes.
Subject and Method
Medical records of the patients whose initial impressions were cerebellar ataxia under the age 18 years between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Initially, thirteen subjects were included, but 3 were excluded due to follow-up loss.
Results
Among 10 subjects, six were male (M:F = 1.5:1). Ataxic gait was found in all 10 subjects. Mean age at first visit was 4.3 years (range: 1.33 – 9.98). Recent fever history was present in 8, and four presented fever on admission. Brain MRI abnormalities were found in 3, which showed abnormal signals on cerebellum (two in unilateral dentate nucleus and one in unilateral cerebellar hemisphere). The cause of acute cerebellar ataxia (n=7) was infectious, postinfectious, or vaccination-related. Acute cerebellitis (n=3) involved thalamus (n=1) or spinal cord (n=1). Fever duration and the time to full recovery were longer in a group with MRI abnormality. Mean follow-up duration was 10.6 months (range, 0.23 – 37.2) and clinical symptoms improved without residual neurologic problems.
Conclusion
Acute cerebellar ataxia showed fast recovery. MRI is useful to understand cerebellar pathology. Although the time to full recovery was longer in acute cerebellitis, they also showed full recovery.