Research
The Posterior Fossa Society coordinates international research on posterior fossa syndrome through consensus processes, global meetings, and five special interest groups that bring clinicians and scientists together across disciplines.
Special interest groups
Each group leads the Society's work in its area and reports progress at our global meetings.
Neurosurgery
Surgical strategies and techniques to reduce the risk of posterior fossa syndrome.
Lead: Andrea Carai, MD
Imaging & Neuroscience
Advanced imaging and neuroscience to understand which brain pathways are involved.
Lead: Mina Langhein, MD
Co-lead: Stuart McAfee, PhD
Nosology & Scoring
Standardized definitions, terminology, and scoring systems for diagnosis and assessment.
Lead: Darcy Raches, PhD
Rehabilitation
Therapies that improve speech, language, movement, and daily function.
Lead: Vânia de Aguiar, PhD
Education & Advocacy
Education for families, clinicians, and the public, and advocacy for affected children.
Lead: Nathan S. Rosenberg, MD
Society publications
Reducing surgical risk: the neurosurgical consensus
Practical recommendations for pediatric neurosurgeons on approach, instruments, retraction, and extent of resection, identifying the conduct of surgery as the most important modifiable factor.
Toescu SM, Pizer B, Gump W, et al. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2025;36(6):789–797. Read it · Neurosurgery
Artificial intelligence and preoperative risk prediction
A multinational, multi-reader study of AI decision support for predicting posterior fossa syndrome from preoperative MRI, with practice recommendations from the Society.
Sidpra J, Toescu SM, Yamaki V, et al. Neuro-Oncology Pediatrics. 2025;1(Suppl 1):wuaf001.163. Read it · Imaging & Neuroscience
State of the art: the 1st Global Meeting
A synopsis of the 2022 Liverpool meeting, covering terminology, the experience of patients and families, the cerebellum's role in cognition, and new work in imaging, surgery, scoring, ataxia, and rehabilitation, with research priorities for each group.
Walsh KS, Pizer B, Samargia-Grivette S, et al. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024;40(7):2177–2191. Read it · Meetings
The 2018 Consensus Meeting
Set up working groups that laid the foundation for today's special interest groups: refining the definition and symptom scoring, understanding causes and risk, and developing rehabilitation approaches.
Posterior Fossa Society Consensus Meeting 2018: a synopsis. Childs Nerv Syst. 2019. Read it · Meetings
The Iceland Delphi consensus
The working definition of postoperative pediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome, reached through an international Delphi process and used in research worldwide.
Gudrunardottir T, Morgan AT, Lux AL, et al. Childs Nerv Syst. 2016;32(7):1195–1203. Read it · Nosology & Scoring
Ongoing work
A shared definition of posterior fossa syndrome
A Society-wide consensus effort to agree on a definition of the term most often used in clinics and by families.
Guidance for radiologists
A review for the neuroradiology community, currently under peer review, summarizing where the imaging evidence is strong and agreed.
Guidance for researchers
A review, in preparation, setting out best practices for lesion-symptom mapping in the cerebellum, from lesion detection and anatomic normalization to statistical inference.
Resources for families
Plain-language guidance before surgery and a hospital resource map, with guidance after diagnosis in preparation.
Work with us
Members can join any special interest group. Researchers outside the Society who share our interest in posterior fossa syndrome, the cerebellum, or pediatric neuro-oncology are welcome to get in touch at info@posteriorfossasociety.org.
References
A complete, topic-organized list of every source cited across our website.