NEURO - Headache, neuro-oncology and CNS infections Flashcards
What are the 3 types of primary headache
Tension
Cluster
Migraine
Features of tension headache
COntinuous severe P
Bilateral - band like
Every day and can persist for months
Who gets tension headaches
Classically middle aged F
Mx episodic tension headaches (<15d/month)
Paracetamol
Aspirin
Mx tension headache if meds being used >2xW
75mg amitriptylline
Time - cluster headache
30mins -2hrs
Features cluster headache
Multiple times/day Severe unilat pain Centered on 1 eye Comes on suddenly assoc w: red eye, watering eye, vom
What is a common precipitant of cluster headaches
Alcohol
Mx cluster headaches (2)
SC/nasal triptan @ start of attack
Home O2
What % of the population suffer from migraines
10%
What are migraines associated with (4)
Menstruation/OCP
Exercise
Alcohol/food
Sx of migraine w/ aura
Sense of ill health Visual aura Throbbing headache anorexia N +V Photophobia Begins locally, spreads bilaterally
Neuro examination findings migraine
Normal
Conservative Mx of migraine (2)
Headache diary
Avoid triggers
Mx acute migraine attack (3)
NSAIDS/Paracetamol + anti-emetic
PO triptan if severe
Preventative Mx migraine - 1st line
1st line = Topiramate or propranolol
Preventative Mx migraine - 2nd line
Amitriptylline/Anticonvulsants
Sinister causes of headache (6)
Incr ICP Idiopathic IC HTN HTN SAH/Meningitis Temporal arteritis Cancer
Red flags - headache (9)
< 20y/o Vom w/ no cause Worsening headache + fever Thunder clap Neuro deficit Cognitive dysfunction Personality change LOC Triggered - cough/valsava
who is idiopathic intracranial HTN common in?
Obese young women
S+S Idiopathic IC HTN (3)
No mass on imaging
Visual disturbance
Bilateral papilloedema
Ix idiopathic IC HTN (2)
CT/MRI norm
LP - incr CSF P
Mx idiopathic IC HTN (3)
Decr W
CCS
Surgical shunt
PS trigeminal neuralgia
Agonizing sharp pain over CN V
One sided
O/E = normal
Mx trigeminal neuralgia
Carbamazepine
What is atypical facial pain?
Episodic aching in non-anatomical distrib H+N
What is atypical facial pain associated with?
Anxiety/depression
Mx atypical facial pain
Anti-depressants
What does the presentation of a SOL (Intracerebral) depend on? (2)
Rate of growth
Anatomical location
PS Intracerebral SOL (5)
Headache N+V Papilloedema Epileptic seizures Progressive neurological deterioration e.g. weakness, sensory loss, CN palsies, dysphagia
Ix suspected SOL
Early CT
+ MRI if no mass on CT
Mx suspected SOL
Dexamethasone 4-6mg
Anticonvulsants
Rx neuro-oncology
What is paraneoplastic syndrome?
Cluster of Sx
Not explained by tumour, mets or hormones norm secreted by tissue
E.g.s of paraneoplastic syndromes in neurology (4)
Myasthestenia gravis
Eaton-Lambert syndrome
Paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration
What is the most common adult brain malignancy
Malignant glioma
Origin cells malignant glioma
Astrocytes