Geriatric/Neurology Flashcards
During EOM testing, the patient is noted to have delayed adduction of the left eye. Rest of exam is normal. What is most likely to be the underlying cause of this abnormality?
a) Muscular dystrophy
b) MS
c) Myasthenia gravis
d) Polymyalgia rheumatica
Multiple sclerosis. These lesions love to affect the oculomotor nucleus, which results in slow or absent adduction of the eye.
Which of the following is the earliest manifestation of alzheimer’s dementia
a) incontinence
b) memory deficit
c) aggressiveness
d) motor disturbances
Memory impairment.
Aggressiveness is a late finding, incontinence doesn’t happen and motor disturbances are a parkinsons thing.
45 yo woman presents with sharp, burning pain that radiates from her mouth towards her right ear. Pain is intermittent, excrutiating, lasting for a few seconds and is worse with eating/touching her face, Drug of choice for long term tx?
a) Carbamazepine
b) Propanolol
c) Valium
d) Phenobarbitol
Carbamezapine is helpful for the tx of trigeminal neuralgia
12 month old presents with possible viral meningitis. Which lab result is most consistent with this diagnosis?
a) Dec CSF glucose
b) Dec CSF protein
c) Inc CSF mononuclear cells
d) Inc CSF C-reactive protein
Increased CSF mononuclear cells are noted in viral meningitis. Elevated proteins are seen in viral meningitis.
The other two findings are seen in bacterial meningitis.
10yo male has abrupt, brief episodes of impaired consciousness and rhythmic blinking. Which of the following is the most likely type of seizure?
a) Focal
b) absence
c) tonic clonic
d) complex partial
Absence seizures are generalized seizures characterized by abrupt, brief episodes of impaired consciousness, staring and rhythmic blinking.
73yo female was diagnosed with alzheimers 3 years ago. Her 80 yo husband can no longer help feed and bathe her. Which of the following support services is most appropriate for this patient?
a) Hospice
b) Senior center
c) Adult day care
d) Skilled nursing facility
Skilled nursing facility is appropriate for patients who require assistance for ADL
Which of the following is considered to be the gold standard in making the diagnosis of MS?
a) Gadolinium enhanced MRI
B) MRA of the brain
c) positron emission testing
d) CT brain scan
Gadolinium enhanced MRI studies can help to characterize and delineate intramedullary disease and are able to characterize various lesions in time and space
5yo child has just been hospitalized with meningococcemia. Family members and close contacts should be given what as ppx
a) Rifampin PO
b) PCN PO
c) Erythromycin
d) no ppx needed
Everybody exposed should get rifampin to eliminate the organism from the nasopharynx
42yo has chronic migraine HA. Has been using ergotamine, but is now having 2 HA per week. Interfering with work. Appropriate preventative tx?
a) Sumatriptan (imitrex)
b) Promethazine
c) Propranolol
d) Ketorolac
C) Propanolol. Rad for preventing migraine HA and may be maintained indefinitely
Sumatriptan and ketorolac are used for acute HA, not preventative
Appropriate tx of myasthenia gravis
a) donepezil (Aricept)
b) quinidine (quinidex)
c) neostigmine (prostigmin)
d) edrophonium (tensilon)
Neostigmine.
Edrophonium is used for diagnosing MG but is too short acting to be used therapeutically.
68yo obese man w/ 58 PY hx. Has experienced sudden and total LOV in right eye, which resolved after 20 minutes. Which is the most likely diagnosis?
a) Optic neuritis
b) Retinal detachment
c) macular degeneration
d) TIA
TIA. Sudden onset unilateral neuro defecit and RF for vascular disease suggests vascular ischemia. The short duration of symptoms suggests TIA specifically.
Bradykinesia is most commonly associated with:
a) Wernicke’s syndrome
b) Hashimoto thyroiditis
c) Cushing’s disease
d) Parkinsons
Parkinsons. Have a resting tremor, bradykinesia, lack of facial expression and micrographia.
43 yo receptionist has 1 mo hx of pain and tingling in R thumb, index and middle finger. + Tinel + PHalen. Most appropriate intervention at this time is:
a) methylprednisone
b) neutral splint
c) observation
d) Surg
Neutral splint. Relieves impingement of median nerve
Tx of Bell’s palsy involves which of the following?
a) acyclovir
b) reassurance of pt recovery
c) referral to neurosurg
d) electromyography
Reassurance. Bells is a peripheral neuropathy of CN VII. 60% of cases recover spontaneously.
Which reflexes should begin to disappear at 2mo in a normal infant?
a) moro
b) grasp
c) tonic neck
d) parachute
Grasp should start to disappear at 2 mo.
Moro @ 5-6
Tonic neck @6-7
Parachute life
Upon stroking lateral aspect of sole from heel to ball, great toe dorsiflexes and the other toes fan. This is a positive:
a) Kernig’s sign
b) Brudzinski
c) Babinksi
d) Gower
Babinski. `
Which is a LONG TERM SE of phenytoin
a) ataxia
b) hypotension
c) osteomalacia
d) dysrhythmia
Osteomalacia (demineralization of bone) is a SE of chronic administration.
Ataxia is pheny OD
Cardiac dysrhythmia w/w/o hypotension is an expected SE of a pheny IV push
75yo male presents for routine physical. On PE fine cortical movement with repetitive rubbing of the tip of the thumb along the tips of the fingers is noted at rest. Most likely diagnosis?
a) Seizure
b) peripheral neuropathy
c) Shy-Drager
d) PD
Parkinsons presents with a tremor at rest (pill rolling), bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability
A patient complains of loss of sensation at umbilicus level. Which dermatome is affected?
a) T6
b) T8
c) T10
d) T12
T10
27 yo female presents w/ weakness, visual loss, and sensory loss over the R great toe. These symptoms have occurred during 3 episodes approximately 3 mo apart w/ each episode lasting 3 days. Which testing is more useful for evaluation of this patient?
a) MRI of brain
b) electromyography
c) glucose tolerance test
d) Electroencephalograph
MRI. MS typically presents with relapsing weakness of the limbs, sensory loss, paresthesias, and visual changes.