Focal Brain Lesions Flashcards
Focal brain lesions are a
Acute localized neurological deficit
Focal brain lesions can be
Transient or permanent
What is the most common cause of focal brain lesions in adults and children?
Adults -vascular cause
Children -brain tumors
The secondary area of a part of the brain is in charge of what? ( ex: secondary visual area, secondary sensory and motor area)
Association
Which are the broadman areas of the visual part of the brain?
17,18 & 19
Which are the broadman areas of the associative visual part of the brain?
7 and 39
What is a transient ischemic attack?
A neurological dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia without the acute infarction
What urgent diagnostic evaluations must be performed in a patient who suffered from a TIA?
Brian imaging, preferably diffusion weighted MRI, within 24 hours of symptom onset and cervicales vascular imaging (Doppler ultrasonography, CT or magnetic resonance angiography)
What is the treatment for a TIA?
Antithrombotic therapy for noncardioembolic transient ischemic attack or anti coagulation for cardioembolic transient ischemic attack
Interventional procedures
Antihypertensive therapy and lipid modification
Control of diabetes mellitus
Lifestyle modifications: smoking cessation, weight loss, increased physical activity, and improved diet
What is a stroke?
An interruption of blood flow to the brain
A stroke can be caused by what?
A blood clot (thrombus) , an embolism or a rupture of a vessel (hemorrhage)
What is the most frequent cause of a hemorrhage?
Hypertension followed by an aneurysm and a malformation
What happens during a brain infarction?
there is an inappropriate liberation of excitatory neurotransmitters (glutamate) that increases Ca+ intake by glutamate receptors (NMDA)
What is the area of penumbra?
The are surrounding an ischemic area
What is focal ischemia?
A localized area that doesn’t received enough blood due to arterial occlusion or hypoperfusion
Where do the border zone “watershed” infarcts occur?
In the regions at the most distal reaches of the arterial blood supply, between arterial territories
border zone infarcts are typically seen after?
Hypotension episodes
