Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41449366›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2025

Cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma in a patient with autism spectrum disorder and psychotic symptoms: a case report.

Kanji Itami, Keitaro Kimoto, Yuki Takahashi, Yuichi Onishi, Katsunaka Mikami, Kenji Yamamoto

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kanji ItamiDepartment of Psychiatry, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan. ik2816@tokai.ac.jp.
Keitaro KimotoDepartment of Psychiatry, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.
Yuki TakahashiDepartment of Psychiatry, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.
Yuichi OnishiDepartment of Psychiatry, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.
Katsunaka MikamiDepartment of Psychiatry, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.
Kenji YamamotoDepartment of Psychiatry, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPsychiatric symptoms, including psychotic manifestations such as hallucinations and delusions, are common in patients with brain tumors, typically associated with tumors in the frontal and temporal lobes. Psychotic symptoms are rarely linked to cerebellar tumors. However, recent evidence suggests that the cerebellum is involved in higher-order functions like cognition, emotional regulation, and social behavior. This report describes the case of a patient with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who presented with a unique combination of a cerebellar tumor and psychotic symptoms, achieved complete remission of psychotic symptoms without antipsychotic treatment, and was followed up for three years. CASE PRESENTATION: A 16-year-old male with longstanding ASD presented with auditory hallucinations, delusional beliefs, and thought disorder. Since childhood, he displayed features such as poor eye contact, hypersensitivity to sounds, solitary play, restricted interests, and behavioral rigidity. At age 13, he began experiencing fluctuating psychotic symptoms, which were later diagnosed as schizophrenia-like psychotic features alongside his ASD. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 3-cm cerebellar mass, which was identified as a pilocytic astrocytoma upon surgical resection. Notably, the patient's psychotic symptoms completely resolved after surgery, without the use of antipsychotic medication, and have not recurred during a 3-year follow-up, while his core characteristics of ASD remained unchanged.

conclusionsThis case suggests that cerebellar pathology may contribute to the development of psychotic symptoms, supporting the hypothesis that cerebellar dysfunction can lead to schizophrenia-like features. It also highlights the potential link between cerebellar dysfunction and ASD. Given the slow-growing nature of pilocytic astrocytomas, the case highlights the importance of considering cerebellar pathology in the differential diagnosis of psychosis, with implications for understanding disorders like ASD.

Indexed as

AstrocytomaAutism Spectrum DisorderCerebellar NeoplasmsPsychotic DisordersAdolescentHallucinationsHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleAutism spectrum disorderBrain tumorCerebellar pilocytic astrocytomaHallucinationPsychosisSchizophrenia

Identifiers

PMID41449366
PMCPMC12849241

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