CEREBELLAR MUTISM FOLLOWING POSTERIOR FOSSA TUMOR RESECTION IN CHILDREN: CASE REPORT

Serebellar mutism has been documented as a complication that could occur and develop after posterior fossa tumor surgery during childhood. cerebellar mutism also may be caused by vascular and degenerative diseases. disruption of speech in cerebellar mutism is usually temporary but some permenant cases may ocur. mutism usually disappears in six months period. an 11 year old male patient was ad mitted with headache, nausea and vomiting. a large mass (45x40x50mm) has been identified in posterior fossa. an operation has been planned and carried out. there was no any neurologic deficit during postoperative period. mutism has developed on third day postop. during surgery, injury to cerebellar nucleus and vermis and vascular spasm have been suggested but the etiology is not clear. in this case, development of cerebellar mutism after the operation of posterior fossa tumor in children has been discussed in light of literature.