Cerebellar cystic ganglioglioma in an 8-year-old child

The authors report a child with a cerebellar ganglioglioma and large cyst. An 8-year-old boy presented with headache and ataxia. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies demonstrated a large cystic component associated with intense contrast enhancement of a mural nodule in the left cerebellar hemisphere. A preoperative diagnosis of cystic astrocytoma was made. The tumor was removed via a midline suboccipital approach. Pathological examination of the tumor specimen revealed a ganglioglioma. The postoperative course was uneventful. There was no tumor recurrence on repeat MRI. At most recent follow-up, the patient was well. Although rare, cerebellar cystic gangliogliomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumors.