The syndrome of 'cerebellar' mutism and subsequent dysarthria.

"Cerebellar" mutism refers to a specific childhood disorder in which a complete but transient loss of speech, followed by dysarthria, occurs after removal of a cerebellar tumor. We present a consecutive series of 15 children with this disorder, which we prefer to designate "mutism and subsequent dysarthria." The conditions in which it develops suggest also an extracerebellar component of cerebellar mutism. Hydrocephalus at presentation, localization of tumor adjacent to the fourth ventricle, and postsurgical edema of the pontine tegmentum are involved in its development.