Massive intracerebellar hemorrhage in low-birth-weight infants.

The clinical and pathologic observations of massive intracerebellar hemorrhage (destruction of at least one-third of cerebellar tissue) are described in six low-birth-weight infants. In all infants, severe progressive apnea associated with a falling hematocrit were the prominent clinical features. Four infants were asphyxiated at birth. Some degree of cerebellar hemorrhage (macroscopic or microscopic) was observed in 21% of 157 newborn brains examined at autopsy. The cause of massive intracerebellar hemorrhage is unknown, but may result from deforming pressures on the skull secondary to perinatal trauma. A close follow-up of cerebellar function in low-birth-weight infants is important.