Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Path 2022 > Histopath - Neuro > Flashcards

Histopath - Neuro Flashcards

1
Q

Only known environmental risk factor for CNS cancer

A

Previous radiotherapy to head and neck

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Supratentorial tumour clinical features

A

Seizures
personality change
focal neuro deficit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Subtentorial tumour clinical features

A

Cerebellar signs
Long tract signs - hyperreflexia?
CN palsies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Craniotomy - indication, purpose

A

Debulking
Subtotal & complete resections
Remove as much tumour as (safely) possible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Open biopsy - indications, purpose

A

Inoperable but approachable tumours (~1cm)

Take sample - usually representative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Stereotactic biopsy - indications, purpose

A

If open biopsy not indicated, ~0.5cm tissue

Tissue may be insufficient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What components are assessed to give tumour grade

A

Proliferative activity
Cell differentiation
Necrosis
Genetic profile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Grading of CNS tumour

A

Grade 1 = benign
Grade 2 = >5 years
Grade 3 = <5 years
Grade 4 = <1 year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Diffuse gliomas - management

A

complete resection impossible due to direction of growth into CNS parenchyma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Genetics of diffuse gliomas

A 
Often have IDH1/2 mutations
H3 mutations (1%)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Genetics of circumscribed gliomas

A

> 90% have MAPK pathway mutations

  • BRAF
  • NF1
  • FGFR1
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Most common tumour of children

A

Pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade 1)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Imaging: ‘well circumscribed cystic enhancing lesion’

What is it?

A

Pilocytic astrocytoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Histology of pilocytic astrocyoma

A

Piloid ‘hairy’ cell
Rosenthal fibres
Low mitotic activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Histology of astrocytoma

A

Low-moderate cellularity
Low mitotic activity
No vascular proliferation, necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Most common glial cell tumour (glioma)

A

Glioblastoma

also most aggressive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Histology of glioblastoma

A

High cellularity
High mitotic activity
Micro vascular proliferation (neoangiogenesis)
Necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

MRI reports ‘extra-axial, isodense, contrast-enhancing’

What is it?

A

Meningioma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Histology of meningioma

A

Psammoma bodies

Calcifications

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Most frequent CNS tumour in adults?

A

Metastases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Most frequent primaries that metastasise to CNS

A

Breast
Lung
Melanoma
Renal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Histology of Medulloblastoma

A

Homer-Wright rosettes

4 subtypes:

  • classic
  • nodular / desmoplastic
  • extensive nodularity
  • large cell anaplastic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Grade of medulloblastoma

A

All WHO grade 4

24
Q

Usual site of diffuse glioma

A

Supratentorial

25
Usual site of circumscribed glioma
Posterior fossa
26
Usual site of pilocytic astrocytoma (type of circumscribed glioma)
Cerebellar Optic-hypothalamic Brain stem
27
Usual site of astrocytoma (diffuse glioma)
Cerebral hemispheres
28
Subfalcine herniation
Singular cortex pushed under falx Rare Not acute
29
Transtentorial (uncal) herniation
Raised ICP supratentorially | Medial temporal lobe pushed into posterior cranial fossa
30
Tonsillar herniation
Global raised ICP Cerebellum pushed through base of skull Can cause cardio respiratory depression (via compression of brain stem)
31
TIA future risk
1/3 of those with TIA get significant infarct within 5 years
32
Non-traumatic intra-parenchymal haemorrhage - cause & location of bleed
HTN in majority of bleeds Small intraparenchymal vessel rupture Sub cortical region most common - esp basal ganglia
33
Subarachnoid haemorrhage - cause & location of bleed
Rupture of Berry aneurysm 80% internal carotid artery bifurcation 20% within vertebro-basilar circulation
34
Most common cause of stroke
Infarction - tissue death due to ischaemia (70-80%)
35
Common sites of cerebral atherosclerosis
Carotid bifurcation | Basilar artery
36
Most common site of embolic occlusion (causing stroke)
Middle of cerebral artery branches
37
Origin of emboli causing stroke?
Heart | Other atherosclerotic plaques
38
Signs of basal skull fracture
Otorrhoea, rhinorrhoea Battle sign (mastoid bruising) Periorbital bruising + swelling (Raccoon eyes)
39
Contusion definition
Brain in collision with skull causing surface bruising If Pia mater is torn --> 'laceration'
40
Areas of brains susceptible to contusion
Lateral surfaces of hemisphere | Inferior surfaces of frontal & temporal lobes
41
Commonest cause of coma (when no bleed present)
Diffuse axonal injury
42
Chronic Traumatic encephalopathy
Psych presentations in retired American footballers (emerging in rugby + football) Tau pathology
43
Histology of Prion disease
Prion protein deposits Spongiform change Pathological protein plaques in cerebellum
44
Clinical features new Variant CJD
Patients <45 yrs old Cerebellar ataxia Dementia Longer duration than CJD
45
Histology of Alzheimer's
Extracellular amyloid plaques Neurofibrillary Tau tangles + same protein from plaques builds in vessels 'cerebral amyloid angiopathy'
46
Macroscopic changes in Alzheimer's
Cerebral atrophy Large ventricles Severe shrinkage of hippocampus Widening of sulci, thinning of gyri
47
Braak staging of Alzheimer's
I-III = medial temporal lobes IV = wider spread throughout temporal lobes V = peristriate cortex VI = primary visual cortex
48
What Braak stage are Alzheimer's patients with Sx
stage III-IV
49
Macroscopic Changes in Parkinson's disease
Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra --> loss of neuromelanin pigment
50
Microscopic features of Parkinson's disease
``` Lewy bodies Axonal processes (Lewy neurites) ```
51
Diagnostic gold standard for Parkinson's disease
Immunostaining for alpha synuclein
52
Braak staging of Parkinson's disease
``` 1 = dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (in dorsal medulla) 2 = pons 3 = substantia nigra 4 = cholinergic neurons 5 = frontal? ```
53
What Braak stage are symptomatic Parkinson's disease patient
Stage 3
54
Other causes of Parkinsonism (besides Parkinson's disease)
Multiple system atrophy - alpha synuclein deposited in glial cells (mainly oligodendrocytes) Progressive supra nuclear palsy Corticobasal degeneration EPSE from psychiatric medication
55
Macroscopic appearance of Pick's disease
Fronto-temporal atrophy
56
Microscopic appearance of Pick's disease
Tau positive pick bodies Marked gliosis Neuronal loss Balloon neurons

Path 2022 (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions