neuro Flashcards
what will a CT contrast imaging show of a basal subarachnoid haemorrhage
blood in the interhemispheric fissure and the sylvian fissure and all the sulci ventricles can be enlarged
what are the acute demyelinating polyneuropathies
Guillain-Barre syndrome
AIDS-seroconversion phase
lymphoma
pathological spreading is a sign of
UMN lesion
treatment of ischaemic stroke
alteplase
decompressive craniotomy
angiography - remove clot
why do you give vancomycin in the AB cocktail for meningitis
to try and gain some cover for high level resistant strains of strep pneumonia
what is claudication
ischaemic pain in exercising muscles - due to the imbalance between workload of muscles and the ability to maintain aerobic metabolism
how do you tell which eye is the dud one in diplopia
the one that moves the least = dud
lacunar infarcts affect which vessels
vessels to the basal ganglia, thalamus or deep white matter
differential diagnosis in someone with a new onset headache with cancer or IS
meningitis
brain abscess
metastasis
What is the term for worsening of sensory symptoms with heat?
Uhthoff’s phenomenon - relatively specific for MS
what is dystonia
abnormal muscle activity/tone leading to sustained postures and movements
treatment for ecephalitis
dexamethasone preceding ceftriaxone + vancomycin + penicillin (to cover for meningitis) + ACYCLOVIR
two common causes of acute vestibulopathy
vestibular neuronitis
brainstem/cerebellar stroke
what causes aneurysms (pathology)
weakness in elastin and collagen in the adventitia and media
how do mass lesions/tumours in the brain cause headache
- traction on large blood vessels and dura
- direct pressure on pain-sensitive areas
- elevated ICP from hydrocephalus, mass effect or haemorrhage into or around the tumour
3 most common triggers for seizures
alcohol
sleep deprivation
non-compliance from meds
symptoms of carpal tunnel
pain in the whole hand, tingling discomfort which is most prominent at night
patients tend to shake their hand for the pain
fingers feel like sausages
major diagnostic finding to diagnose myopathy
CK >1000
what is primary lateral sclerosis
similar to ALS but no LMN signs –> better prognosis
how do you diagnose myasthenia gravis
- tensilon test with short acting ACh antagonist (edrophonium)
- blood test for autoantibodies
- ACh R, MuSK
- CT chest (for thymoma)
- EMG studies
when someone has an intention tremor.. what do you think
cerebellar lesion
what are the complications of subarachnoid haemorrhage
hydrocephalus –> increased ICP vasospasm –> infarction
hypernatraemia
seizures
neurogenic pulmonary oedema
MI
late complications = PE, pneumonia
what are the common features of raised ICP headache
worse in the mornings
better after vomiting
exacerbated by cough or straining
drowsiness
what are the clinical features of myasthenia gravis
no muscle wasting or fasiculations
proximal weakness > distal normal reflexes and sensation weakness increasing with repetitive exercise
early involvement of extraocular muscles and lid opening muscles
signs and Sx of optic neuritis
RAPD
Swelling of the optic disc
painful eye movements
decreased visual acuity
decreased red colour saturation
tests for cranial nerves III, IV and VI
H test
treatment for demyelinating polyneuropathy
intragam
plasma exchange
Steroids (CIDP only)
immunosuppression
signs of motor neuron disease
muscle wasting
fasiculations
LMN and UMN signs
generalised weakness
reflexes preserved unti late
plantars may be upgoing
no sensory loss
why do you give dexamethosone to patients with suspected meningitis prior to giving them ABs
to try and prevent 8th nerve damage
how can you tell the difference between peripheral and central nystagmus
peripheral - nystagmus doesnt direction change (beats away from affected ear), mixed horizontal and torsional nystagmus
central - nystagmus direction changes, any kind of nystagmus
what 3 inherited conditions can predispose you to getting a brain tumour
neurofibromatosis 1 and 2
Li Fraumeni syndrome (p53 loss –> glioma)
what is a positive Head impulse test
when you see the correctional movement of the eyes going back onto the target (catch up sarcade)
acute treatment of stroke before knowing whether ischaemic or haemorrhagic
NIL oral
IV fluids of Normal saline
aspirin
clexane 40mg
neurological examinations 2 hourly
inform relatives
what signs do PD patients get due to their rigidity
stooped posture
reduced arm swing
stiffness through ROM in a joint
- cog wheeling or lead pipe
explain the 2 phases of nystagmus
slow phase - retinal slip
fast phase - re-fixate on target alternate between slow and fast phases
what are the 2 prognostic factors that make it more likely for a patient to progress to having MS from a single presentation
- the number of inflammatory lesions of baseline MRI brain
- the presence of oligoclonal bands in the CSF
symptoms of severe ischaemia of the lower limbs
pain
parasthesia
pale
coolness
pulseless
how can you tell the difference in presentation between vestibular neuronitis and brainstem stroke
vestibular neuronitis - can stand on their own, unidirectional nystagmus, may be suppressed by fixation, HIT positive
brainstem stroke - cannot stand on their own, head impulse test negative, direction change nystagmus
what is the characteristic sign of BPPV during a Hallpike
period of latency and then a torsional nystagmus, then passess
explain the gait of someone with PD
- short, shuffling
- reduced speed
- narrow base
- forward trunk flexion (stooping)
- reduced arm swing
- festination or freezing
- difficulty turning/changing direction
characteristic histological sign for meningioma
meningioma “whorls”
what are the red flags for headache
- first/worst headache
- abrupt onset
- change or progression of pre-existing headache pattern
- abnormal findings on physical/neurological exam
- new headache in patients aged >50
- new headache in patients with cancer, IS, pregnancy
- triggered by exertion, sexual activity, Valsalva
most common cause of encephalitis
HSV
secondary prevention of stroke
BP lowering
statins
antiplatelet
AF prevention
carotid revascularization
anticoagulation
what disorder/disease is associated with myasthenia gravis
thymic hyperplasia
thymoma
in which reflex is spreading normal
brachioradialis
risk factors for stroke
hypertension, AF, acute MI, ventricular aneurys, RHD, prosthetic valves, Diabetes, cigarette smoking, increased W:H, heavy alcohol intake, polycythaemia, hypercholesterolaemia
meningiomas are most common in which population
women middle age
difference between simple and complex seizures
simple - no effects on awareness
complex - affects awareness
two main DDx for headache + seizures
tumour
haemorrhage
main treatment for PD
Levodopa + carbidopa (peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor)
localisation of a tumour in a patient with dysphasia
dominant frontal or temporal lobes
what causes the meningism symptoms associated with sub arachnoid haemorrhage
due to blood in the subarachnoid space
what is the acute treatment of MS flare
1g IV methylprednisolone for 3-5 days
most common symptom of low grade glioma
seizures
which primary tumours commonly metastasise to the brain
lung, breast, melanoma, kidney, GI
causes of peripheral nystagmus
BPPV
vestibular neuronitis
Meniere’s disease
Trauma
What is it called when a focal seizure starts off and then spreads for eg. up the arm
Jacksonian March
treatment of myasthenia gravis
ACh antagonists
plasma exchange
IV immunoglobulin
immunosuppression - steroids, azathioprine thymectomy
principles of treatment of brain metastases
- commence dexamethasone
- reduction in ICP and oedema
- surgery to remove the metastasis if solitary or the patient has a reasonable life expectancy (occasionally some are removed for palliation)
- whole brain radiotherapy
- for multiple mets
- stereotactic radiotherapy
- for 1-3 mets
what are the signs/symptoms associated with segmental radiculopathy
pain/paraesthesia in a dermatomal distribution
weakness of muscles innervated by the root –> may atrophy
May have diminished/absent reflexes
lacunar infarcts are associated with
hypertension!
differential diagnosis in someone with headache triggered by exertion/sexual activity/valsalva
aneurysm
chiari malformation
posterior fossa tumour
what causes spinal compressive syndrome
epidural abscess - extension from spinal discitis or bacterial
osteomyelitis - bacteriaemia with seeding to epidural space
treatment of raised ICP caused by subarachnoid haemorrhage
elevation of the head (encourages venous return)
diuresis to reduce cerebral oedema/ECF
hyperventilation - intubate and ventilate if necessary
sedate/paralysis
remove mass
drain hydrocephalus
what are the causes of transverse myelitis
MS (common)
infectious
autoimmune disorders
No aetiology
What is Tod’s paresis/palsy
after a focal seizure the part where the seizure started in may have paralysis/paresthesia for a while after the seizure
survival with a low grade glioma
years to decades - eventually will progress to a higher grade and death
what is an ataxic gait
gait with a broad base (10-15cm) - looks drunken
how much time must pass between presentations for MS to classify them as disseminated
at least 1 month