Cerebellar stroke

Abstract

Cerebellar stroke consists of cerebellar infarction and hemorrhage. The two entities have similar symptoms and signs depending on structures involved. Vertebrobasilar atherosclerosis and cardioembolism cause the cerebellar infarction, while hypertensive microangiopathy and arteriovenous malformation generate cerebellar hemorrhage. The increasing availability of new imaging techniques helps to better identify the etiology of cerebellar stroke and predict the risk of progression and recurrence. Special attention should be paid to the patients with cerebellar stroke because of potential complications including brainstem compression, acute hydrocephalus, and brainstem infarction. Optimal medical therapy, endovascular procedures, or surgical interventions improve patients’ outcomes. This chapter summarizes current understanding of cerebellar stroke, and clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of patients.