Functional Imaging of Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome

Pilot Study: Functional Imaging of Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome

The purpose of this study is to better understand why some children with cancer have difficulty speaking after brain surgery. Difficulty speaking may be due to known complications to the language centers in the brain. These language centers may be located in slightly different places in different people. This study will study which areas may be damaged.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject and/or guardian is able to provide written informed consent prior to study registration
• Age ≥3 years and ≤21 years
• Newly diagnosed, untreated mass in posterior fossa, either benign or malignant
• Is being evaluated for surgical resection of the mass
• Able to perform clinical language testing in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Claustrophobia
• Any contraindication to MRI (e.g., pacemaker, aneurysm clip, tissue expander).
• Pregnant or nursing female
• Does not speak English as a primary language (as determined by the P.I. or treating physician after discussion with a potential subject and his/her family)
• Preexisting language or developmental disorder that would limit ability to cooperate with testing (as determined by the P.I. or treating physician after interviewing potential subject and his/her family; for example, a child may be excluded if he/she has confirmed or suspected autism spectrum disorder, dysarthria, dyslexia, lisp, hypotonia, or other age inappropriate speech development)