Neuro Flashcards
a patient in a MVA is alert then suddenly becomes vegetative; CT shows minute punctate hemorrhages with blurring of grey-white border; what is the diagnosis?
diffuse axonal injury (key clues: deceleration injury, sudden rapid decline, sx out of proportion to CT findings, grey-white border damage in the area where densities are different)
steps of working up a solitary pulm nodule
chest x-ray, compare to previous, if stable do nothing, if new do chest CT, if benign do serial CT’s, if suspicious do PET or biopsy, if definite malignancy surgery
a patient with previous whiplash injury develops decreased pain and temp sensation in upper extremities along with weakness; what is the diagnosis
syringomyelia (CSF expansion of the central canal leads to compression of spinothalamic crossing fibers and possibly cervical and thoracic portions of corticospinal tracts)
what are four main pathognomonic symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome
- small palpebral fissures
- smooth philthrum
- thin upper lip
- microcephaly
how do you differentiate between cauda equina syndrome and conus medularis syndrome
cauda equina syndrome involves UNILATERAL radicular pain, saddle hypoesthesia, asymmetric muscle weakness, hyporeflexia due to peripheral neuropathy
conus medularis involves BACK PAIN w/o significant radicular pain, perianal hypoesthesia and symmetric muscle weakness and hyperreflexia (more of an UMN b/c it is part of spinal cord)
what is the most common pediatric brain tumor
astrocytoma (note: they can be infratentorial or supratentorial)
what differentiates a complex partial seizure with lip smacking from an absence seizure with lip smacking
in absence there is no post-ictal state; also, hyperventilation during EEG can reproduce an absence seizure pattern (3Hz spike and wave pattern)
what’s the difference between a typical vs. atypical absence seizure
atypical absence seizure lasts longer and has slower spike and wave pattern (
what is Lennox Gastaut syndrome
childhood seizures of multiple types, impaired cognition, slow spike and wave EEG activity
a patient on metoclopramide for gastroparesis develops muscle pain and contraction; why is this and what do you do for it
dystonic reaction; metoclopramide is a dopamine antagonist and like the antipsychotics can cause extrapyramidal symptoms like parkinsonisms, dystonic rxns and rarely NMS; tx=benztropine or diphenhydramine
in what condition do you see albumino-cytologic dissociation
Guillain-Barre
what CSF findings are characteristic of Multiple Sclerosis
oligoclonal bands (IgG relative increase compared to other classes); however a CSF IgG index can have false positives
port-wine stain, leptomeningeal angiomas, glaucoma, seizures, mental retardation are all a part of what syndrome
Sturge-Weber
what are the symptoms of tuberous sclerosis
HAMARTOMA: hamartomas, adenoma sebaceum, mitral regurg, ash-leaf spots, rhabdomyoma, (tuberous sclerosis), autosomal dOminant, mental retardation, renal Angiomyolipoma, seizures
you diagnose a patient with likely Guillain Barre; what should you do next for management?
serial spirometry to assess FEV and FVC to determine if intubation is needed (peak flow is a less accurate alternative)
how does hyperventilation help decrease intracranial pressure
increased paCO2 promotes vasodilation and increased cerebral blood flow; lowering the CO2 in the blood promotes vasoconstriction to lower cerebral blood flow and thereby lower intracranial pressure
what is the most important risk factor for stroke
hypertension (not smoking)
sporadic upper motor and lower motor neuropathies with no sensory deficits is characteristic of what disease
Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis
what drugs are used to treat Alzheimers
cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine) and the NMDA-R antagonist memantine
what is the treatment for a solitary brain met vs. multiple brain mets
for a single brain met: surgical resection, then follow with stereotactic radiosurgery or whole brain radiation therapy
multiple mets: whole brain radiation therapy or supportive therapy
what is Todd’s paralysis
post-ictal paralysis
how do you differentiate between the two causes of ring enhancing lesions in an AIDS patient
toxoplasmosis usually shows multiple lesions (toxo serologies are not confirmatory as they are positive in many people) whereas CNS lymphoma would be a single lesion (check for CSF EBV DNA to confirm dx)
if you see EBV DNA in the CSF of a patient you should be thinking what condition
CNS lymphoma
an exclusively breastfed baby develops bilateral bulbar palsies followed by descending flaccid paralysis; what is the diagnosis and how do you treat it
botulism (via ingestion of dust-borne spores)
tx=human-derived botulism immune globulin
how can you differentiate between botulism and Werdnig-Hoffman (spinal muscular atrophy)?
spinal muscular atrophy does not affect the pupils and the motor weakness is more pronounced in the lower extremities than upper
what medications predispose to pseudotumor cerebri
tetracyclines and isotrentinoin (hypervitaminosis A)
what is Shy-Drager syndrome
Shy-Drager syndrome also known as multiple system atrophy involves Parkinsonism, autonomic dysfunction (orthostatic hypotension, incontinence, gastroparesis, etc.) and widespread neurologic deficits
what is the first line therapy for pseudotumor cerebri
acetazolamide (inhibits choroid plexus carbonic anhydrase)
how do you differentiate between a basal ganglia hemorrhage and thalamus hemorrhage
both have contralateral loss of motor and sensation
basal ganglia involves gaze away from the hemiparesis (toward the hemorrhage) whereas thalamic hemorrhage involves gaze away from the hemorrhage and is associated with nonreactive miotic pupils
what drug is used to prevent cerebral vasospasm
nimodipine
besides monitoring with spirometry, how do you treat Guillain Barre Syndrome
IVIG or plasmapheresis (glucocorticoids are not effective)
what laboratory result confirms diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome
CSF analysis showing albuminocytologic dissociation (high protein with normal WBC)
a child with an ear infection has headaches and vomiting at night and in the morning; what is your greatest concern (dx?) and what is the next step of workup?
brain abscess (as a complication of otitis media) get a CT with contrast (will show ring-enhancing lesion) or brain MRI
how do you differentiate anterior cord syndrome from central cord syndrome
anterior cord usually occurs after a burst fracture and involves bilateral loss of motor and pain/temp sensation below the lesion
central cord usually follows a cervical injury and involves bilateral motor weakness and pain/temp sensation in a cape distribution
cephalohematoma vs. caput succedaneum
cephalohematoma=subperiosteal hemorrhage, slow forming, no scalp discoloration, limited to one cranial bone
caput succedaneum=scalp bruise from birth trauma (presenting part) that can cross suture lines
what is the treatment for a simple febrile seizure
reassurance;
for a complicated seizure (longer than 15 min or multiple episodes) consider imaging
key distinction between normal aging and dementia
dementia=impaired daily function
what does aura tell you about the type of seizure
that it is likely partial (since the aura comes from a discrete focus)