Non‐motor role of the cerebellum: Cerebellar mutism syndrome in a child with a small hemorrhagic contusion in the dentate nucleus: A case report and literature review

TL;DR

A child with a rare cerebellar injury showed speech loss, highlighting the cerebellum's role in cognition and the importance of recognizing cerebellar mutism syndrome.

Contribution

This case report emphasizes the non-motor role of the cerebellum and the importance of accurate diagnosis of cerebellar mutism syndrome in pediatric trauma patients.

Findings

Cerebellar mutism syndrome was diagnosed in a child with a small hemorrhagic contusion in the dentate nucleus.

Non-motor signs of the syndrome recovered over weeks, leaving only mild motor deficits.

The case provides insight into the cerebellum's role in cognitive functions like speech.

Abstract

Our case report highlights that Prompt recognition of cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) is critical in clinical practice, as it is often misdiagnosed as just being reduction in the level of consciousness, particularly in pediatrics trauma patients.

Cerebellar mutism syndrome is defined as transient mutism following posterior fossa surgery, hemorrhage or traumatic insults involving the cerebellum. Cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) is now recognized as a form of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS/Schmahmann syndrome). CMS following head injury is exceedingly rare with very few cases reported. Five years old boy with normal developmental milestones and no significant medical history, sustained closed head injury following road traffic accident, the clinical scenario in addition to the radiological findings led to the diagnosis of cerebellar mutism syndrome. CMS is defined as of neurologic and cognitive disorders, mainly speech disorder. Patient non‐motor signs recovered in a period of few weeks from the mutism syndrome with remaining mild motor deficit. CMS is a set of neurologic and cognitive disorders, the most distinct of which is speech disorder (usually reversible), what is unique about this case is the selective site of the contusion at the region of the dentate nucleus and superior cerebellar peduncle. Such cases offer a better understanding to the function of the cerebellum and its role in cognition. Additionally, the knowledge of this aspect of cerebellar function helps in better predicting the clinical course of such lesions which in turn helps in communication and explanation to patient's families.

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