Neuro Tumours Flashcards
List clinical presentations/symptoms of raised intracranial pressure
Headache Vomiting Mental changes Seizures Visual impairment
WHO grade I astrocytic tumours are called what?
Pilocytic
Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas / Pilocytic astrocytoma
WHO grade II astrocytic tumours are called what?
Low grade astrocytomas / Diffuse astrocytoma
WHO grade III astrocytic tumours are called what?
Anaplastic astrocytomas
WHO grade IV astrocytic tumours are called what?
Glioblastoma multiforme
Who is typically affected by grade I astrocytic tumours?
Children
and young adults -
Typically present with headache, vomiting and low appetite
What is the treatment of choice for grade I astrocytic tumour?
Surgery (curative)
Grade II astrocytic tumours (low grade astrocytoma) have predilection for which brain lobes?
Temporal and frontal
Which lobe do oligodendroglial tumours predominately affect?
Frontal lobe
Describe the morphology of oligodendroglial tumours (buzzword)
Grayish-pink
Toothpaste-like
Majority of meningiomas are asymptomatic. True/False?
True
Meningiomas are usually malignant. True/False?
False Histologically benign (90%)
What do pineal tumours typically obstruct?
CSF outflow, leading to hydrocephalus
Damage/tumour at Broca’s area causes what type of aphasia?
Expressive dysphasia - comprehend language but struggle to produce comprehensive sentences (non-fluent aphasia - they have difficultly finding the words)
Damage/tumour at Wernike’s area causes what type of aphasia?
Receptive aphasia - have trouble understanding language and produce fluent but meaningless speech
What are poor prognostic factors for astrocytic tumours?
- Age >50
- Focal deficit ( cf. seizures)
- Short duration of symptoms
- Raised ICP
- Altered consciousness
- Enhancement on contrast studies - Low grade tumours don’t enhance with IV contrast. If they are enhancing it indicates grade 3 or 4
What are the characteristics of a headache caused by a tumour?
Worse in the morning, pain wakes them up, worse on coughing/leaning forward
Are pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO Grade I) benign or malignant?
Benign
Diffuse astrocytomas (WHO Grade II) typically affect what age range?
20-30
What is the main complication of diffuse astrocytomas (WHO Grade II)?
All will turn into high grade gliomas with enough time
What is the prognosis for anaplastic astrocytomas (WHO Grade III)?
2 years
What age range is most prone to glioblastoma multiforme (WHO Grade IV)?
60-70
What genetic condition can make people more likely to develop neurological tumours?
Neurofibromatosis
specifically NF1 in the case of pilocytic astrocytomas and NF2 for meningiomas and acoustic neuromas
What is the prognosis for glioblastoma multiforme?
<1 year
What type of tumour is described as having a ‘butterfly’ appearance?
Glioblastoma multiforme
What age range do oligodendrogliomas typically affect?
25-45
What age range do meningiomas typically effect?
60-70
Radiation in childhood is a risk factor for which type of brain tumour?
Meningioma
What is the most common type of hormone secreting adenoma?
Prolactinoma
A bilateral acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma in a young person would indicate what genetic condition?
NF2
What type of hearing loss is caused by acoustic neuromas/vestibular schwannomas?
Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (if tumour is unilateral)
Von Hippel–Landau syndrome is associated with what brain tumour?
Haemangioblastoma
