Neuro Midterm Flashcards
Why do glioblastomas grow aggressively, but meningiomas don’t?
Glioblastomas are highly infiltrative and rapidly dividing, whereas meningiomas are usually slow-growing and well-circumscribed.
A patient presents with progressive vision loss and a pituitary mass—what’s the most likely cause?
A pituitary adenoma compressing the optic chiasm, causing bitemporal hemianopsia.
How does a tumor’s location determine its symptoms?
Tumors in different brain regions affect specific functions, e.g., frontal lobe tumors cause personality changes, while temporal lobe tumors may cause seizures.
Why do some brain tumors cause seizures, while others don’t?
Tumors in the cerebral cortex irritate the neurons, leading to seizures, while deep or infratentorial tumors are less likely to do so.
Why do infants with hydrocephalus have different symptoms than adults?
Infants have open fontanelles, allowing skull expansion, leading to macrocephaly rather than increased intracranial pressure symptoms like headache.
Why is lumbar puncture dangerous in obstructive hydrocephalus?
It can cause brain herniation due to pressure differences between the brain compartments.
When would you choose an ETV over a VP shunt?
ETV is preferred in obstructive hydrocephalus when there is a clear blockage in the CSF pathway, avoiding the need for a permanent shunt.
A patient has difficulty walking, memory problems, and incontinence—what’s the most likely cause?
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), characterized by the triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence.
What is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults?
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).
What imaging finding is characteristic of a glioblastoma?
An irregular ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding edema on MRI.
What is the classic symptom triad of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)?
Gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, and dementia (‘Wet, Wobbly, Wacky’).
What is the first-line treatment for hydrocephalus?
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt or Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) depending on the cause.
Which type of hematoma is associated with a ‘lucid interval’?
Epidural hematoma, usually due to middle meningeal artery rupture.
(“How do gliomas present differently from meningiomas?”
“Gliomas are infiltrative and often cause seizures or neurological deficits
(“Why do pituitary adenomas cause vision problems?”
“They can compress the optic chiasm
(“When would you suspect a brain tumor over a stroke in a patient with neurological deficits?”
“Brain tumors cause progressively worsening symptoms
(“How do you differentiate epidural vs. subdural hematoma on imaging?”
“Epidural hematomas are biconvex (lens-shaped) and do not cross suture lines
(“Why do patients with an epidural hematoma have a lucid interval before deteriorating?”
“The initial impact causes a brief loss of consciousness
(“What is the most common benign brain tumor?”
Meningioma
(“What is the preferred imaging for a suspected brain tumor?”
” MRI with contrast.”)
(“What is the main complication of VP shunt placement?”
” Infection, Infection, obstruction, or overdrainage leading to subdural hematoma.”),
(“What is Cushing’s triad, and why is it important in neurosurgery?”
Bradycardia, hypertension, and irregular breathing; indicates increased intracranial pressure and impending brain herniation.”)
