Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage-experience with 57 surgically treated patients and review of the literature

The treatment of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage is still discussed controversially. We analyzed a series of 57 patients who underwent surgical evacuation of a cerebellar hematoma at our department. Preoperative clinical and radiological parameters were assessed and correlated with the clinical outcome in order to identify factors with impact on outcome. The overall clinical outcome according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale at the last follow-up was good (GOS 4-5) in 27 patients (47%) and poor (GOS 2-3) in 16 patients (28%). Fourteen patients (25%) died. The initial neurological condition and the level of consciousness proved to be significant factors determining clinical outcome (p = 0.0032 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Among radiological parameters, brain stem compression and a tight posterior fossa solely showed to be predictive for clinical outcome (p = 0.0113 and p = 0.0167, respectively). Overall, our results emphasize the predictive impact of the initial neurological condition on clinical outcome confirming the grave outcome of patients in initially poor state as reported in previous studies. The hematoma size solely, in contrast to previous observations, showed not to be predictive for clinical outcome. Especially for the still disputed treatment of patients in good initial neurological condition, a suggestion can be derived from the present study. Based on the excellent outcome of patients with good initial clinical condition undergoing surgery due to secondary deterioration, we do not recommend preventive evacuation of a cerebellar hematoma in these patients.