neurologic/cardiovascular

Question 1

what is alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 1

• presenile dementia

- diffuse form of progressive cerebral atrophy that develops at an early age than the senile period.

Question 2

the radiographic appearance of Alzheimer’s?

Answer 2

on CT = cerebral atrophy, and symmetrically enlarged ventricles with the prominence of cortical sulci

Question 3

what is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Answer 3

berry aneurysm rupture

Question 4

what are the symptoms that a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage usually have??

Answer 4

excruciating headache followed by unconsiousness

Question 5

what are the most common locations for a berry aneurysm?

Answer 5

origins of the posterior cerebral and anterior communicating arteries

Question 6

what is the radiographic procedure of choice for a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Answer 6

non-contrast CT scan

Question 7

what does a non-contrast CT demonstrate for a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Answer 7

high-density blood in the subarachnoid spaced of the basal cisterns in more than 95% of cases.

Question 8

why is a contrast-enhanced CT scan not indicated for a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Answer 8

because the surgeon will not operate on the aneurysm without an angiogram, so the patient will be exposed to the risk of an excessive load of contrast material.

Question 9

how does an epidural hematoma look like?

Answer 9

biconvex. between inner table of the skull and the dura mater

Question 10

how does a subdural hematoma look like?

Answer 10

convex and concave (crescentic shaped)

Question 11

what is another way to say stroke?

Answer 11

acute brain infarction

Question 12

what are the symptoms that commonly result in stroke?

Answer 12

hemiparesis = weakness of one side of the body

dysarthria = difficulty speaking

Question 13

what is the purpose of radiographic evaluation in the patient with acute stroke?

Answer 13

to exclude other processes that can simulate the clinical findings (like subdural/parenchymic hemorrhages) before considering the possibility of using anticoagulent therapy.

Question 14

is contrast CT used in evaluation of patient with stroke?

Answer 14

no. it is contraindicated, because contrast it is a toxic substance that can cross the BBB in the region of the cerebral infarct.

Question 15

what is a transient ischemic attack?

Answer 15

focal neuro deficits that resolve within 24 hours. temporary occlusion from an emboli

Question 16

what is the most common primary malignant brain tumor?

Answer 16

gliomas

Question 17

what is epidural hematoma caused by?

Answer 17

acute arterial bleeding

Question 18

what is subdural hematoma caused by?

Answer 18

venous bleeding, ruptured veins between the dura and the meninges

Question 19

what causes cerebral contusion?

Answer 19

when the brain tissue is injured by movement of the brain within the calvaria after blunt trauma to the skull.

Question 20

does the patient lose consiousness in a contusion?

Answer 20

yes, cannot remember the traumatic event

Question 21

how does a contusion look on a CT?

Answer 21

low density areas of edema and tissue necrosis, with or without multiple small areas of hemorrhage.

Question 22

what is the most common site of injury for a contusion?

Answer 22

the frontal and anterior temporal regions

Question 23

what is most likely the cause of an air fluid level in the sphenoid- sinus on an erect lateral skull xray?

Answer 23

basilar skull fracture

Question 24

what is meningitis?

Answer 24

cute inflammation of the pia mater and arachnoid as a result of bacterial or viral infection

Question 25

what is parkinsons disease?

Answer 25

shaking pulsy. progressive degenerative disease. stooped posture, stiffness and slowness of movement, fixed facial expression, involuntary rhythmic tremor that go away with voluntary movement.

Question 26

what is angina?

Answer 26

feeling of severe chest pain that may radiate to the neck, jaw, and left arm

Question 27

what artery does an aneurysm most commonly occur in?

Answer 27

aorta, especially the abdominal part

Question 28

does a saccular aneurysm involve both sides of the arterial wall?

Answer 28

no, only on side

Question 29

does a fusiform aneurysm affect one side of the wall?

Answer 29

no, the entire circumference

Question 30

what congenital defect can result in an aortic aneurysm?

Answer 30

marfan’s syndrome

Question 31

what is an aortic dissection?

Answer 31

disruption of the intima permits blood to enter the wall of the aorta and separate its layers. divided into true and false lumens

Question 32

where is an aortic aneurysm usually located? at which level

Answer 32

abdominal aorta, below level of kidneys.

Question 33

what is an aortic aneurym?

Answer 33

dilation of an artery

Question 34

what causes an aortic aneurysm?

Answer 34

weakness in the wall of the aorta caused by atherosclerosis, infection, trauma, marfans.

Question 35

danger of a false lumen?

Answer 35

may rupture and lead to aortic aneurysm as a result of the high pressure in the vascular system.

Question 36

in what patients do aortic dissections usually occur?

Answer 36

with arterial hypertension.

Question 37

how and where do most aortic dissections begin?

Answer 37

as a tear in the intima immediately above the aortic valve.

Question 38

is arteriosclerosis a form of atherosclerosis?

Answer 38

no, atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis

Question 39

what is the difference between athero and arteriosclerosis?

Answer 39

athero = in vessels of the extremities 
arterio= in arteries

Question 40

what is CHF?

Answer 40

congestive heart failure. inability for the heart to propel blood at a rate and volume sufficient to provide an adequate supply to the tissues.

Question 41

what is the major causes of left-sided heart failure?

Answer 41

CAD, valvular disease, hypertension