Cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma presenting with intratumor bleeding, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural hematoma

Abstract

Massive intracranial hemorrhage is a very rare initial presentation of cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas. There are no reports in the medical literature on a cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma presenting with intratumor bleeding (ITB), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and subdural hematoma (SDH). A 15-month-old boy presented with lethargy and nausea to our hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass with ITB at the left cerebellar hemisphere in addition to SDH in the posterior fossa and SAH at the interpeduncular cistern. The patient underwent emergency surgery. On incising the dura, we found SDH, the tumor was visible at the cerebellar cortex, and near total removal followed. Microscopic examination of tissue sections revealed a pilocytic astrocytoma. The authors' case is the first report with a presentation including ITB, SAH, and SDH. The presumed mechanism of the SAH and SDH was leaking of the ITB into subarachnoid and subdural spaces.