Neuro pathology Flashcards
Dandy-Walker malformation
Congenital failure of the cerebellar vermis to develop
Presents with a massively dilated 4th ventricle and an absent cerebellum
Syringomyelia
Cystic degeneration of the spinal cord, arising with trauma or in associated with type 1 Arnold-Chiari malformation; usually presents at C8-T1
Initially presents with “cape-like” loss of pain and T sensation with sparing of fine touch and position sense (due to damage to anterior white commissure)
Syprinx expansion may result in muscle atrophy and weakness (damage to anterior horns) and horner syndrome (damage to lateral horns)
Poliomyelitis
Damage to anterior motor horn due to Poliovirus
Presents with LMN signs
Werdnig-Hoffman disease
Inherited degeneration of anterior motor horns
Presents as “floppy baby”
Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Degenerative disorder of UMN and LMN Initially presents as atrophy and weakness of hands.
Lack of sensory impairment distinguishes ALS from syringomyelia.
May be caused by zinc-copper superoxide disputes mutation (SOD1)
Friedreich ataxia
Autosomal recessive degenerative disorder of the cerebellum and spinal cord, caused by expansion of GAA in the frataxin gene (mitochondrial iron regulation) on chromosome 9
Presents with ataxia, loss of vibratory sense and proprioception, muscle weakness in the LEs, loss of DTRs, and hammertoes.
Associated with HOCM
Closely resembles severe Vitamin E deficiency
Subfalcine hernation
Displacement of the cingulate gyrus under the falx cerebri
Compression of the ACA
Uncal herniation
Displacement of the temporal lobe uncus under the tentorium cerebelli
- Compression of CNIII –> down and out eye with dilated pupil
- Compression of PCA –> contralateral homonymous hemianopsia with macula sparing
- Rupture of paramedian artery –> Duret (brainstem) hemorrhage
Metachromatic leukodystrophy
Demyelinating disorder caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase. Sulfatides accumulate in the lysosomes of oligodendrocytes (lysosomal storage disease)
Krabbe disease
Demyelinating disorder caused by deficiency of galactocerebrosidase. Galactocerebroside accumulates in macrophages.
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Demyelinating disorder caused by impaired addition of coenzyme A to long-chain fatty acids (X-linked).
Accumulation of fatty acids damages adrenal glands and white matter of the brain.
Multiple sclerosis
Demyelinating disorder caused by autoimmune destruction of CNS myelin and oligodendrocytes. Associated with HLA-DR2.
Relapsing and remitting neurologic deficits (e.g. scanning speech and internuclear opthalmoplegia)
MRI reveals plaques (white matter demyelination)
LP shows lymphocytes, increased Ig’s with oligoclonal IgG bands, and myelin basic protein
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
Demyelinating disorder caused by measles virus. Infection in infancy, slow progression, symptoms in childhood.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Demyelinating disorder caused by JC virus of oligodendrocytes. Reactivation of latent virus can occur with AIDS or leukemia
Central pontine myelinolysis
Demyelinating disorder caused by rapid IV correction of hyponatremia. Causes “locked in” syndrome.
Morphological features of Alzheimer disease
1) Cerebral atrophy with hydrocephalus ex vacuo
2) Extracellular neuritic plaques, composed of AB amyloid and entangled neuritic processes
3) Intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein
- unlike in Pick disease, where tau proteins form round aggregates