Neurology Flashcards
What is the normal pressure hydrocephalus triad?
- Urinary incontinence
- Dementia and bradyphrenia
- Gait abnormality (similar to Parkinson’s)
How does a pontine haemorrhage usually present?
Reduced GCS
Paralysis
Pinpoint pupils
How does an anterior cerebral artery lesion present?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
How does a middle cerebral artery lesion present?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
Aphasia
How does a posterior cerebral artery lesion present?
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing
Visual agnosia
How does Weber’s syndrome (lesion of branches of posterior cerebral artery that suppies the midbrain) present?
Ipsilateral CN III palsy
Contralateral weakness of upper and lower extremity
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (lateral medullary syndrome, Wallenberg syndrome) lesion symptoms?
Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
Ataxia, nystagmus
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (lateral pontine syndrome) lesion symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to Wallenberg’s (see above), but:
Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafness
Retinal/ophthalmic artery lesion symptoms?
Amaurosis fugax
Basilar artery lesion symptoms?
‘Locked-in’ syndrome
How do lacunar stroke present?
Present with either isolated hemiparesis, hemisensory loss or hemiparesis with limb ataxia
Strong association with hypertension
Common sites include the basal ganglia, thalamus and internal capsule
Clinical signs CN3?
Palsy results in
ptosis
‘down and out’ eye
dilated, fixed pupil
Clinical signs CN4?
Palsy results in defective downward gaze → vertical diplopia
Clinical signs CN5?
Lesions may cause:
trigeminal neuralgia
loss of corneal reflex (afferent)
loss of facial sensation
paralysis of mastication muscles
deviation of jaw to weak side
Clinical signs CN6?
Palsy results in defective abduction → horizontal diplopia
Clinical signs CN7?
Lesions may result in:
flaccid paralysis of upper + lower face
loss of corneal reflex (efferent)
loss of taste
hyperacusis
Clinical signs CN8?
Hearing loss
Vertigo, nystagmus
Acoustic neuromas are Schwann cell tumours of the cochlear nerve
Clinical signs CN9?
Lesions may result in;
hypersensitive carotid sinus reflex
loss of gag reflex (afferent)
Clinical signs CN10?
Lesions may result in;
uvula deviates away from site of lesion
loss of gag reflex (efferent)
Clinical signs CN11?
Lesions may result in;
weakness turning head to contralateral side
Clinical signs CN12?
Tongue deviates towards side of lesion
What is the diagnostic test for MS?
MRI with contrast
What are the three features of Wernicke’s (receptive) aphasia?
Speech Fluent
Comprehension abnormal
Repetition impaired
What is the difference between aphasia and dysarthria?
Aphasia- language comprehension and production problems
Dysarthria- Motor speech disorder
Where is Wernicke’s area located?
Superior temporal gyrus
Where is Broca’s area located?
Inferior frontal gyrus
What are the features of Broca’s (expressive) aphasia
Speech in non-fluent, laboured and halting
Repetition impaired
Comprehension normal
Is Bell’s palsy upper or lower motor neurone
Lower motor neurone and meaning the forehead is affected (UMN spares upper face)
What are the symptoms of Bell’s palsy
Lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy (forehead affected)
Post-auricular pain (may precede paralysis)
Altered taste
Dry eyes
Hyperacusis
Management of Bell’s palsy
- Corticosteroids- prednisolone
(Potentially antiviral aciclovir)
What are the key features of MND?
Asymmetric limb weakness
Mixtures of lower and upper motor neurone signs
Wasting of small muscles in hand
Fasciculations
Absence of sensory signs/symptoms
What is conduction dysphasia?
A stroke affecting the arcuate fasciculus in the dominant hemisphere (connection between Wernicke’s and Broca’s area)
What are the features of conduction dysphasia?
Speech fluent but repetition poor
Comprehension relatively intact
What is first line for spasticity in MS?
Baclofen or Gabapentin
What is first line in an acute relapse of MS?
High dose steroids (methylprednisolone)
What is the investigation for narcolepsy?
Multiple sleep latency EEG
What is a focal aware seizure?
Sudden short-lived change is senses (smell, taste, tactile, visual). No post ictal. Accompanied by sweating, twitching or gaze deviation.
What is a complex focal seizure?
A focal impaired awareness seizure
Do all patients lose conciousness in generalised seizures?
Yes
What are the types of generalised seizure?
Tonic-clonic
Tonic
Clonic
Atonic
Absence
What is a focal to bilateral seizure? (secondary generalised)
Starts in one side and area of the brain before spreading to both lobes
Difference between tibial nerve palsy and peroneal nerve palsy
TIPPED
Tibial- inversion, plantarflexion
Peroneal- eversion, dorsiflexion
Opposite one spared wheras in L5 radiculopathy all knocked out and weakness of hip abduction
How to manage bladder dysfunction in MS?
May be (urgency, incontinence, overflow)
Get ultrasound to assess bladder emptying (anticholinergics may worsen problem in some)
If significant residual volume → intermittent self-catheterisation
If no significant residual volume → anticholinergics may improve urinary frequency
What are the features of autonomic dysreflexia?
Hypertension, flushing and sweating above the level of the lesion
Paleness below region
What type of Parkinson’s does asymmetrical tremor (symptoms) suggest?
Idiopathic Parkinson’s
What is the triad of Parkinson’s
Bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity
What type of tremor is seen in Parkinson’s
Unilateral that improves with voluntary movement
What is the key investigation for encephalitis?
Cerebrospinal fluid PCR
What is the management of encephalitis?
Intravenous aciclovir in all cases of suspected encephalitis
What are the features of progressive supranuclear palsy?
Postural instability, impairment of vertical gaze, Parkinsonism and frontal lobe dysfunction
Parkinson’s with visual problems and poor response to l-dopa
What is the acute management of a cluster headache?
100% oxygen
Subcutaneous triptan
What is the prophylactic treatment for a cluster headache?
Verapamil
(Tapering dose of prednisolone)
What condition is Lambert-Eaton syndrome also associated with?
Small cell lug caner
Myasthensia gravis and Lambert-Eaton difference?
MG worse with exercise, LE gets better with exercise
Features of Lambert-Eaton syndrome?
Repeated muscle contractions lead to increased muscle strength
Limb-girdle weakness (manifesting as a waddling gait)
Hyporeflexia
Autonomic symptoms: dry mouth, impotence, difficulty micturating
(No eye problems like in MG)
Lambert-Eaton syndrome management
Treat underlying cancer
Immunosupression (prednisolone and/or azathioprine)
Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy may be helpful
What is Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Immune mediated demyelination of the peripheral nervous system often triggered by an infection
What is often the initial symptom of GB
Back/leg pain
What are the characteristic features of GB?
Progressive, symmetrical weakness of all the limbs
Weakness typically ascending with legs affected first
Reflexes reduced or absent
Sensory symptoms mild
(History gastroenteritis common)
What are the GB investigations?
Lumbar puncture- High protein, normal WCC
Nerve conduction studies
Multiple sclerosis features
Lethargy
Visual:
Optic neuritis
Optic atrophy
Uhthoff’s phenomenon: worsening of vision following rise in body temperature
Sensory:
Pins and needles
Numbness
Trigeminal neuralgia
Motor:
Spastic weakness
Cerebellar:
Ataxia
Tremor
Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfunction
Intellectual deterioration
How to remember GCS?
Motor (6 points) Verbal (5 points) Eye opening (4 points). Can remember as ‘654…MoVE’
What are the break downs for GCS?
Motor response
6. Obeys commands
5. Localises to pain
4. Normal flexion
3. Abnormal flexion to pain (decorticate posture)
2. Extending to pain
1. None
Verbal response
5. Orientated
4. Confused
3. Words
2. Sounds
1. None
Eye opening
4. Spontaneous
3. To speech
2. To pain
1. None
What are the features of a stroke?
Motor weakness
Speech problems (dysphasia)
Swallowing problems
Visual field defects (homonymous hemianopia)
Balance problems
What are the criteria for offering thrombolysis?
Patient presents within 4.5 hours of onset of symptoms
Patient has not has a previous intracranial haemorrhage, uncontrolled hypertension, pregnant etc
What should be done as soon as haemorrhagic stroke excluded?
Given 300mg of aspirin and anti platelet therapy continued
TIA management?
Give 300mg aspirin immediately unless contraindicated
If TIA in last 7 days- assessment by stoke physician within 24 hours
If TIA over 1 week ago- refer to specialist within 7 days
What is the management for haemorrhagic strokes?
Supportive
Stop/reverse anticoagulation/ antithrombotic
CN Motor, Sensory or Both
Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most
What does a defective CN IV cause?
Defective downward gaze- vertical diplopia
What are the three classifications of subdural hematoma?
Acute
Subacute
Chronic
What is the presentation of acute subdural hematoma on a CT?
Crescent shaped collection, not limited by suture lines
Hyperdense (bright)
If large may cause midline shift or herniation
Who is most at risk of subdural haematomas?
Elderly or alcoholic patients
What is the presentation of a chronic subdural haematoma?
Several weeks to month progressive confusion, reduced conciousness or neurological defecit
What is the difference between chronic and acute subdural on CT scans?
Acute- hyperdense (bright)
Chronic- hypodense (dark)
What is the treatment for an essential tremor?
Propanolol
What are the features of essential tremor?
Postural tremor- worse if arms outstretched
Improved by alcohol and rest
Most common cause of titubation (head tremor)
What are the common features of MND?
Asymmetric limb weakness most common presentation of ALS
Mixture of LMN and UMN signs
Wasting of small hand muscles/ tibialis anterior is common
Fasciculations
Absence of sensory signs
CN3 clinical presentation?
Palsy:
Ptosis
Down and out eye
Dilated, fixed pupil
CN4 clinical presentation?
Defective downwards gaze- vertical diplopia
CN5 clinical presentation?
Trigeminal neuralgia
Loss of corneal reflex
Loss of facial sensation
Paralysis of mastication muscles
Deviation of jaw to weak side
CN6 clinical presentation?
Defective abduction- horizontal diplopia
CN7 clinical presentation?
Flaccid paralysis of upper + lower face
Loss of conreal reflex (efferent)
Loss of taste
Hyperacusis
CN8 clinical presentation?
Hearing loss
Verigo, nystagmus
Acoustic neuromas are Schwann cell tumours of the cochlear nerve
CN9 clinical presentation?
Hypersensitive carotid sinus reflex
Loss of gag reflex (afferent)
CN10 clinical presentation?
Uvula deviates away from the site of lesion
Loss of gag reflex (efferent)
CN11 clinical presentation?
Weakness turning head to contralateral side
CN12 clinical presentation?
Tongue deviates towards side of lesion
What are the features of MS?
Lethargy
Visual- optic neuritis, optic atrophy, Uhthoff’s phenomenon- worsening of vision following rise in body temperature, internuclear opthalmoplegia
Sensory- Pins/needles, numbness, trigeminal neuralgia, Lhermitte’s syndrome- paraesthesiae in limbs on neck flexion
Motor- spastic weakness- most commonly seen in the legs
Cerebellar- ataxia- seen during acute relapse, tremor
Others:
Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfuntion
Intellectual deterioration
Presentation of acute narrow angle glaucoma?
Severe pain around eye, nausea, redness, misty vision and semi dilated pupil
Anterior cerebral artery lesion?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
Middle cerebral artery lesion?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, upper extremity > lower
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
Aphasia
Posterior cerebral artery lesion?
Contralateral homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing
Visual agnosia
Weber’s syndrome (branches of the posterior cerebral artery that supply the midbrain) lesion?
Ipsilateral CN III palsy
Contralateral weakness of upper and lower extremity
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (lateral medullary syndrome, Wallenberg syndrome) lesion?
Ipsilateral: facial pain and temperature loss
Contralateral: limb/torso pain and temperature loss
Ataxia, nystagmus
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (lateral pontine syndrome) lesion?
Symptoms are similar to Wallenberg’s (see above), but:
Ipsilateral: facial paralysis and deafness
Retinal/ophthalmic artery lesion?
Amaurosis fugax
Basilar artery lesion?
‘Locked-in’ syndrome
Lacunar stroke presentation?
Isolated hemiparesis, hemisensory loss or hemiparesis with limb ataxia
Strong association with hypertension
Common sites include basal ganglia, thalamus and internal capsule
Parietal lobe lesions presenation?
Sensory inattention
Apraxias
Astereognosis
Inferior homonymous quadrantanopia
Gerstmann’s syndrome
Occipital lobe lesions?
Homonymous hemianopia (macular sparing)
Cortial blindness
Visual agnosia
Temporal lobe lesion?
Wernicke’s aphasia- (forms speech)- speech remains fluent but word substitutions and neologisms
Superior homonymous quadrantanopia
Auditory agnosia
Prosopagnosia
Frontal lobe lesions?
Expressive Broca’s aphasia- speech non-fluent, laboured and halting
Disinhibition
Perseveration
Anosmia
Inability to generate a list
Cerebellum lesions?
Midline lesions- gait and truncal ataxia
Hemisphere lesions- intention tremor, past pointing, dysdiadokinesis, nystagmus
Amygdala problem?
Kluver-Bucy syndrome (hypersexuality, hyperorality, hyperphagia, visual agnosia)
Substantia nigra of basal ganglia?
Parkinson’s disease
Striatum (caudate nucleus) of the basal ganglia damage?
Huntington chorea
Subthalamic nucleus of basal ganglia?
Hemiballism
Medial thalamus and mammillary bodies of the hypothalamus?
Wernicke and Korsakoff syndrome
What is the presentation of a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)?
Vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and an absent corneal reflex
Affected CN
8- vertigo, unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral tinnitus
5- Absent corneal reflex
7- Facial palsy
Epilepsy treatment summary?
Generalised tonic clonic- M-sodium valproate
F- Lam/leve
F under 10 may get SV
Focal
1st- Lam/leve
2nd- Carbamazepine
Absence-
1st- Ethosuximide
2nd- M- SV, F- lam/leve
Carbamazepine makes them worse
Myoclonic seizures
M- SV
F- Leve
Tonic or atonic
M- SV
F- Lam
Tonic or atonic treatment in female?
Lamotrigine
Myoclonic treatment in female?
Levetiracetam
What are the adverse effects of sodium valproate?
Teratogenic
P450 inhibitor
GI- nausea
Increased appetite and weight gain
Alopecia
Ataxia
Tremor
Hepatotoxicity
Pancreatitis
Thrombocytopaenia
Hyponatraemia
Hyperammonemic encephalopathy
What is the treaetment for focal seizures?
Lamotrigine or levetiracetam
What is the aphasia classifications?
Speech non fluent
Comprehension intact- Broca’s aphasia
Comprehension impaired- global aphasia
Speech fluent
Comprehension relatively intact- conduction aphasia
Comprehension impaired- Wernicke’s aphasia
What are the side effects of levodopa?
Dry mouth
Anorexia
Palpitations
Postural hypotension
Psychosis
Migraine prophylaxis?
1st- Propanolol or topiramate M or F not of child bearing age
2nd- Amitriptyline
Topiramate is teratogenic so not in women of child bearing age
What is the acute treatment of a migraine
1st- combination therapy-
Oral triptan + NSAID or
Oral triptan + paracetamol
Classic triad in Parkinson’s?
Bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity. Characteristically asymmetrical
Carbamazepine adverse effects?
P450 enzyme inducer
Dizziness and ataxia
Drowsiness
Headache
Visual disturbances
Steven-Johnson syndrome
Leucopenia and agranulocytosis
Hyponatreamia secondary to SIADH
What is given pre hospital for status epilepticus?
Rectal diazepam or buccal midazolam
What is first line in hospital for status epilepticus?
IV Lorazepam
What is the management of status epilepticus?
ABC
(Pre hospital rectal diazepam or buccal midazolam)
In hospital IV lorazepam (another after 5 mins)
If ongoing add levetiracetam, phenytoin or sodium valproate
If over 45 mins general anaesthesia or phenobarbital
Status management?
Oh My Lord Phone the Anaesthetist
Oxygen, midazolam, lorazepam, phenytoin, general anaesthetic
What is the wernicke’s encephalopathy traid?
Opthalmoplegia/nystagmus
Ataxia
Encephalopathy
Features of wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Oculomotor dysfunction- nystagmus, opthalmoplegia
Gait ataia
Encephalopathy- confusion, disorientation, indifference and inattentiveness
Peripheral sensory neuropathy
Treatment for wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Urgent replacement of thiamine
When does wernicke’s syndrome become wernicke-korsakoff’s syndrome
When there is an onset of antero and retrograde amnesia and confabulation
Myasthenia gravis management?
1st- Pyridostigmine- long acting acetylcholinerase inhibitors
Add- prednisolone initally or azathioprine, cyclosporine
Thymectomy
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
Rapidly progressing neurological condition-
Rapid onset demetntia
Myoclonus
Which hemisphere is usually dominant?
Left- 90% in RH, 60% in LH