1.07 - H&N Cancer Flashcards
What percentage of brain tumours are benign?
50%
What causes the signs and symptoms associated with brain tumours?
- local brain invasion
- increased intracranial pressure
- compression of adjacent structures
What is the location and function of oligodendrocytes?
Location: CNS
Function: myelination of axons and electrical insulation.
What is the location and function of Schwann cells?
Location: PNS
Function: myelination of axons and electrical insulation.
What is the location and function of astrocytes?
Location: CNS
Function: Repair processes and establishing the blood brain barrier.
What is the location and function of ependymal cells?
Location: CNS
Function: Single-layered columnar and cuboidal cells that line the ventricles and the central canal.
What is the location and function of microglial cells?
Location: CNS
Function: Protective and phagocytic immune-based function.
What is the location and function of satellite cells?
Location: PNS
Function: Cover the PNS ganglia for support.
Location of brain mass and respective deficit / symptom.
Temporal lobe.
- Wernicke’s aphasia
- homonymous superior quadranopsia
- mild contralateral facial weakness
Location of brain mass and respective deficit / symptom.
Frontal lobe.
- drowsiness
- decreased attention
- seizures
- altered judgement
Location of brain mass and respective deficit / symptom.
Parietal lobe.
- impaired position sense
- focal sensory and motor seizures
- homonymous hemianopsia
Location of brain mass and respective deficit / symptom.
Cerebellum.
- ataxia
- nystagmus
- ipsilateral incoordination of arm and leg movements with intention tremor
Location of brain mass and respective deficit / symptom.
Brainstem.
- facial weakness
- dysphagia
- cranial nerve palsy
Most frequently occurring primary brain tumours.
Gliomas.
Risk factors for brain tumours.
- 50-55 years old
- male > female
- synthetic rubber
- vinyl chloride
Signs and symptoms of gliomas.
- headaches
- seizures
- memory loss
- motor weakness
- visual symptoms
- language deficit
- cognitive / personality change
Headache features of gliomas.
- headache on exertion
- headache onset at night or early morning
- headache with neurological signs
- valsalva worsening (ie. coughing, sneezing, bending over)
Examination of gliomas.
- mental status
- cranial nerve exam
- motor system exam
- reflexes
- sensation