Cerebellar infarction in vascular territory of arteria cerebelli superior

Introduction. Cerebellar vascular diseases are focal cerebrovascular diseases in posterior circulation - vertebrobasilar system. The cerebellum is supplied by three main arteries arising from the vertebrobasilar system: arteria cerebelli inferior posterior, arteria cerebelli inferior anterior and arteria cerebelli superior. Cerebelar infarctions are rare but unpredictable disorders. The aim of this study was determination of main risk factors, clinical presentation and prognosis of the cerebellar infarctions in distal vascular territory of the arteria cerebelli superior. Material and methods. We evaluated 60 patients hospitalized after acute cerebellar infarction among other hospitalized patients in five year period. In 18 patients computerized tomography demonstrated infarction in distal vascular territory of the arteria cerebelli superior. All patients underwent clinical and other diagnostic investigations (computerized tomography, electrocardyography and standard blood tests) and were questioned by phone after finishing hospital treatment. Results. Cerebellar infarcts in distal vascular territory of arteria cerebeli superior was 30% of all cerebellar infarcts. The most frequent risk factor was hypertension (66. 7%). Symptomatology and clinical signs were heterogenous but the most frequent were instability (77.8%), vertigo (72.2%) and vomiting (55.6%) followed by ataxia of the limbs (77.8%) and the body (61.1%), nystagmus (55.6%) and disarthria (33.3%) in clinical presentation. All patients had good recovery in hospital and one year afterwards. Discussion. Infarctions in distribution of arteria cerebelli superior are rare and have multiple risk factors and various clinical features in majority of other studies as in this one. Mass effects are present in several studies but none in this one which reflects contraversions present in other published investigations. Conclusion. Cerebellar infarctions in vascular territory of arteria cerebelli superior have multiple risk factors, mostly heterogenous clinical presentations with predominance of instability, vertigo and vomiting with ataxia of the limbs and the body as well as nystagmus and disarthria in clinical presentation. The outcome and prognosis of disease is good despite the large amount of arteria cerebelli superior vascullar territory.