Brain Pathology Flashcards
neoplasm
abnormal collection of cells in brain
mailgnant
cancerous
benign
non-cancerous
most common lesions of brain
metastatic brain cancer
metastatic dissemination
spread
how does metastatic dissemination occur
through hematogenous (blood)
what is the choice of imaging of mets
MRI
what appears as several well defined spherical lesions in area of brain
mets
neoplasms that originate from tissues in brain are termed what
gliomas
how are gliomas names
according to the tissues at which they arise
where is an astrocytoma arise from
astrocytes
meningiomas grow from where
meninges, not the brain tissues
most common primary brain cancer
astrocytomas
another name for astrocytoma
glioblastomas
account for what % of all brain tumors (gliblastomas)
35%
astrocytomas are almost always what
malignant
astrocytomas can arise from where
almost any site throughout the CNS
medulloblastomas
most aggressive primary brain tumor
medulloblastomas are highly what
malignant
what forms from the cerebrellum/posterior fossa of cranial cavity
medulloblastomas
what are benign, slow growing tumors
meningiomas
where do meningiomas grow from
meninges
how can meningiomas occur
singularly, or in multiples throughout CNS
how do meningiomas look when imaged
almost exclusively on surface of brain or spinal cord
acoustic neuromas are also called
acoustic schwannomas
what is another term for acousitc neuromas and schwannomas
vestibular schwannomas
which type of tumor are schwannomas
benign
where do acoustic neuromas grow from
schwann cells of the vestibule portion of theeighth cranial nerve
how do schwannomas usually appear when imaged
usually unilateral tumors appearing at base of brain near brainstem
benign tumors that grow from pituitary
pituitary adenomas
what can result in mass effect in the brain and significant hormonal imbalances
pituitary adenomas
loss of brain function due to a disturbance in blood flow to brain
stroke
permanent loss of brain functioning
CVA
temporal loss of brain functioning
TIA
what are the 2 distinct mechanisms that cause CVA
ischemic or hemorrhagic
what results from events that limit or stop blood flow
ischemic stroke
what are some of the causes of ischemic stroke
extracranial or intercranial thrombosis embolism, thrombosis in situ, and arterial stenosis
as blood flow decreases, neurons in brain cease what
funcitoning
arterial occlusions causing CVA may occur where
IACs, vertebral arteries, basilar artery or in cerebral or communicating arteries in COW
what is most common place for arterial occlusions causing the CVA
cerebral or communicating arteries in COW
ischemic stroke is caused by
embolism
ischemic stroke are not accompanied by what
blood extravasation in brain
what studies help to precisely identify the occluded or stenosed vessel(s) responsible for infarct in brain
angiography
where are ischemic strokes most common in brain
cerebrum, but may occur in cerebellum or brainstem
cerebral infarct may be secondary to what
brain lesions
what is bleeding within cranial cavity resulting in neurological deficits
hemorrhagic stroke
in hemorrhagic stroke, blood escaped the cerebral vasculature and collects where
in parenchyma of brain
what are hemorrhagic strokes also called
intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)
another term for hemorrhagic stroke
intracranial bleed (ICB)
ICB account for what % of all strokes
8-13%
what is more likely to result in death (ischemic or hemorrhagic)
hemorrhagic
what may or may not result in blood collecting in the ventricles
ICB
ICBs are associated with significant what
edema and mass effect
what does mass effect mean
compression of surround structures
subdural hematomas are also called what (2 different things)
subdural bleed or subdural hemorrhage
collection of blood outside of the brain (between dural and arachnoid mater)
subdural hematomas
SDHs can be spontaneous but usually result of what
traumatic injury
what is common in elderly population
subdural hematomas
SDHs appear where on brain
surface of brain
appearance of SDHs depends on what
age of injury
SDH is characteristically what shape
crescent
SDH - can they result in significant mass-effect
yes
epidural hematomas
hemorrhage into the potential space between dura and adjacent bone
EDH can occur how
intracranially or intraspinally
EDH can result in what if not diagnosed and treated promptly
morbidity
EDH are almost all associated with what
skull fractures
EDH can be distinguished from SDH by what shape
elliptical shape
true or false : EDH usually do not cross the sutures
true
a form of ICB caused by traumatic injuries
brain contusion
how do brain contusions appear when imaged
similar to traditional ICBs
what are brain contusions often associated with
edema
cerebral infection which has formed an area of localized absecess
brain abscess
how may brain abscesses be formed
by direct extension of scalp, sinus, or dental infection
how else can brain abscesses arrive in cerebrum
hematological spread (from the blood)
when brain abscesses are imaged, how do they appear
walled cavity filled with infected fluid, blood and sometimes air
what are most brain abscesses
rim-enhancing (collects contrast)
what is routinely associated with necrosis of brain matter, surrounding edema, but not usually blood
brain abscess
why is pt history vital to brain abscess
because they can present in very similar forms to other rim enhancing lesions such as brain tumors
inflammation of brain
encephalitis
usually refers to brain inflammation resulting from an infection
encephalitis
2 forms of encephalitis
primary and secondary
direct viral infection of brain and spinal cord
primary encephalitis
viral infection first occurs elsewhere in body and travels to brain
secondary encephalitis
appears as localized or diffuse inflammation through brain
encephalitis
brain appears swollen and gray white matter differentiation is blurred
encephalitis
where is encephalitis common in brain
temporal lobes
pt hx is critical to differentiate between encephalitis and what
ischemic stroke
infection originating from and primarily affecting meninges
meningitis
how is meningitis usually characterized by
infection in the CSF
since meningitis is infection in CSF, it allows infectious agents that can communicate throughtout
brain
what does meningitis affect
brain and spinal cord
when imaged, appears similar to encephalitis
meningitis
how can you tell its meningitis
inflammation is localized around major meninges in brain
what can be localized or diffuse inflammation though the brain
meningitis
in severe cases, entire brain appears swollen
meningitis
AMV
arterial venous malformations
congenital lesions composed of a complex tangle of arteries and veins connected by one or more fistulae
arterial venous malformation (AMV)
feeding arteries drain directly to the draining veins
AMV
can be present throughout body but most malicious in brain
AMV
appears as exactly what they are - complex web of vascular formations
AMV
how are veins appearance when AMV is present
dilated and intrude into surrounding structures
cerebral aneurysms can occur in what ways
2 forms, traditional form and saccular cerebral eneurysms
arterial wall is weakened, thinned, and vessels in permanently dialted outside of normal paramters
traditional form of cerebral aneursysm
characteristic rounded shape
saccular cerebral aneurysms
account for vast majority of intracranial hemorrhages
berry aneurysms
another term for saccular cerebral aneurysms
berry aneurysms
vessel wall weakens to point it erupts, allowing blood extravasation into subarachnoid space
saccular cerebral aneurysms
easily identified by characteristic spherical appearance on angiographic imaging
cerebral aneurysms
where do most cerebral aneurysms appear
COW
when berry aneurysms ruptures in COW, what is visible
subarachnoid hemorrhage
most common cause of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH)
saccular cerebral aneurysms
SAH visualized as hemorrhage concentrated in what
suprasellar cistern
if cerebral aneurysm ruptures or forms a thrombus, may be associated with what
stroke-like symptoms and cerebral infarct
disturbance of formation, flow, or absorption of CSF
hydrocephalus
what leads to an increase in volume occupied by fluid in CNS
hydrocephalus
hydrocephalus is especially seen where
in ventricles
other conditions that lead to an abnormal increase of CSF in CNS
cerebral atrophy and destructive brain lesions
loss of cerebral tissue leaves a vance space filled passively with
CSF
easily recognized as overly engorged lateral ventricles
hydrocephalus
abnormal, sac-like filled structure that can be found anywhere in body
cysts
most common cyst in brain
arachnoid cyst
forms an extension of the arachnoid membrane
arachnoid cyst
what are arachnoid cyst filled with
CSF
although arachnoid cysts are benign, they can do what
compress surrounding cerebral structures
inflammatory auto-immune disease
multiple sclerosis (MS)
