[An adult case of cerebellar mutism after removal of cerebellar hematoma].

Cerebellar mutism is a well documented complication of posterior fossa tumor surgery in children. But only one case presenting with cerebellar mutism after removal of a cerebellar hematoma in adults was reported previously. We present 64-year-old male developing cerebellar mustism after surgery for hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage. A cerebellar hematoma was located in the right side dentate nucleus and cerebellar peduncle dominantly not extending to the cerebellar vermis. During the period of cerebellar mutism, single photon emission computed tomography revealed a decrease in the contralateral temporo-parietal cerebral blood flow. Cerebellar mutism in this case may be associated with the low blood flow in the contralateral supplementary motor cortex owing to injury to the dentate-thalamo-cortical pathway at the dentate nucleus and cerebellar peduncle. The relevant literature is reviewed.