Brain Tumours

Question 1

Gliomas from ?

Answer 1

Astrocytes (the cells that support the neurones)

Question 2

What are Cholesterol cytomas

Answer 2

The same as a glioma (modern name)

Question 3

What is a meningoma

Answer 3

Cancer of the meninges, has “dogs tail” spreading across side of the brain, on scans. resection is curative.

Question 4

What do we see primary vs secondary?

Answer 4

Primary is usually just one mass, whereas with secondary there is often more than one mass, multiple metastases.

Question 5

What are gliomas due to?

Answer 5

Astrocytes (supporting cells in the brain)

Question 6

What do meningomas lok olike in scan, how can we treat?Whre do they often arise?

Answer 6

Have classical “dural tail” appearance that hugs the meningal layer. Treat with resection (curative). they arise from the arachnoid mater and occur along falx, convexity or sphenoid bone

Question 7

Pituitary tumour sympoms what percentage of tumours are malignant

Answer 7

Endocrine disorders. Can also press on optic chiasm and get optical disturbances.

Can either get:

Acromegaly (Excessive Growth hormone -> bigger hands and feet (shoe sizes/rings don’t fit anymore/carpal tunnel))

Or

Cushing’s syndrome = increased cortisol (think very thin arms and legs, big belly and face, stress).

Question 8

symptoms of raised icp

Answer 8

Headache (typically morning)
Nausea/vomiting
Visual disturbance (diplopia/blured vision)
somnolence
cognitive impairment
altered concsiousness

Question 9

What will patient complain of in 6th nerve funciton

Answer 9

diplopia

Question 10

How much CSF and where usually?

Answer 10

120-150ml, surrounding the brain ad in the spinal column. The body produces around 450-500ml/day

Question 11

What do we use foto help with diagnosis?

Answer 11

THE HISTORY!!!

2ndry tumour?
CT/MRI scans
biopsy

Lumbar puncture(?)
Bloods

Question 12

What does papillodeama lookn like under in a retinal photograph?

Answer 12

Red, no clear cut edges of optic nerve.

Question 13

What is acalculia?

Answer 13

Unable to calculate (simple arythmatic)

Question 14

What is Agraphia?

Answer 14

Unable to write

Question 15

What is Agnosi (finger)

Answer 15

Unable to point to which fingers/not recognising that the fingers are there.

Question 16

What is Gertmann syndrome?

Answer 16

Classic symptoms of a posterior parietal issue in the brain, on the dominant side (usually left).

-inability to distinguish right from left
-finger agnosia
-agraphia
-acalculia

Question 17

where is wernikes area?

Answer 17

Parietal

Question 18

Where is most likely to cause epilepsy? ais epilepsy considered priamry instantly?

Answer 18

Frontal/temporal.

20% seizures caused by underlying brain tumour

Question 19

What are the management principles of brain tumours?

Answer 19

corticosteroids (Dexamethasone) (reduce inflammation and swelling)
treat epilepsy (anticonvulsant drugs)
analgesics / antiemetics
counselling
surgery
radiotherapy
chemotherapy
endocrine replacement

Question 20

When do you not perform lumbar puncture? HWy

Answer 20

If there are brain lesions!! Because already less CSF (as the brian occupies more volume) and so more likely to “cone”