Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis CT Brain

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Crossed cerebellar diaschisis

Refers to a depression in function, metabolism and perfusion affecting the cerebellar hemisphere as a result of contralateral supratentorial lesion.
This disturbance occures in a portion of the brain at a distance from the original site of injury but connected via white matter tracts.
Initially this phenomenon was defined as being caused by an acute lesion but now considered being related to a lesion of any temporal duration.
Other than neurological deficits and clinical features associated with the contralateral supratentorial lesion, this condition is generally asymptomatic.
This is a well-recognised phenomenon following cerebral infarction, although it can be a sequela of any significant supratentorial lesion like tumours, intracerebral haemorrhage, encephalitis , Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome, Radiation necrosis etc.
There is no treatment for this phenomenon other than management of the supratentorial insult and prevention of further insults.

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis

Clinical presentation: Frequent seizures, altered sensorium. 

MRI brain shows marked left hemi Atrophy, ex vacuo dilatation of left lateral ventricle owing to volume loss. Left cerebral hemisphere show multifocal patchy areas of cortical T2 hyper intensities without diffusion restriction. Associated Atrophy of left deep grey nuclei, changes of distal Wallerian degeneration involving left cerebral peduncle of mid brain, Pons.

Imaging diagnosis: Sequel of encephalitis / rasmussen encephalitis.

Right cerebellar hemisphere show marked atrophy can attributed to associated contralateral cerebellar diaschisis. 

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis

Refers to supra tentorial lesion leading to depressed function, metabolism and perfusion of contra lateral cerebellar hemisphere which is connected via white matter tracts.
Interruption of this cortico-ponto-cerebellar white matter tracts which then results in deafferentation and hypometabolism of the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere.

Classically seen following cerebral infarction, although it can be a sequel of any significant supratentorial lesion like bleed, encephalitis as in our case. The same phenomenon can also occur in thalamus called ipsilateral thalamic diaschisis, occurring after an ipsilateral middle cerebral artery territory infarction.

CT or MRI perfusion performed during an acute stroke may show a contralateral cerebellar hypo perfusion. In chronic stages volume loss involving contralateral cerebellar hemisphere.

Clinically other than the neurological deficits associated with the contra lateral supra tentorial lesion, the condition is generally asymptomatic. No treatment apart from management of the supratentorial insult.

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