Cerebellar Hemorrhage

Synonyms

Posterior fossa hemorrhage

Definition

A cerebellar hemorrhage is a bleeding into the cerebellum, the portion of the brain located posteriorly, that controls balance, coordination, and related functions.

Current Knowledge

It is estimated that 10% of all intracerebral hemorrhages, or about 1–2% of all strokes, are cerebellar hemorrhages. It can be caused by high blood pressure, heavy alcohol consumption, cocaine use, anticoagulant use, clotting disorders, cerebral vascular abnormalities such as arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Approximately, two-thirds are thought to result from hypertension. Symptoms of the hemorrhage include headaches, especially at the posterior and inferior area of the skull, nausea and emesis, stiff neck, dizziness and vertigo, blurred or double vision, balance and coordination deficits, speech difficulty, and altered consciousness. The onset of symptoms is generally abrupt and dramatic. This is a medical...