Hemifacial spasm caused by a pilocytic astrocytoma of the fourth ventricle

An 11-year-old male in whom hemifacial spasm was the presenting sign of a p ilocytic astrocytoma within the fourth ventricle is reported. The child's h emifacial spasm decreased substantially after resection of the tumor. Hemif acial spasm is largely a disease of adults and only rarely is attributed to brain tumors. In contrast, this marks the fifth case of hemifacial spasm r eported in a child, three of which have been attributed to tumors of the fo urth ventricle. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.