Neurology Flashcards
Differentiate between essential tremor and Parkinson’s tremor.
Essential tremor is worse with arms outstretched, Parkinson’s tremor at rest.
What is the management for a confirmed ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours?
Thrombolysis with alteplase + thrombectomy
Describe the classic features of Bell’s palsy.
Forehead and lip droop, post-auricular pain, hyperacusis, altered taste
Which type of head bleed has a lucid interval
Extradural haematoma
What is seen on brain CT in subdural haematoma
crescent-shaped
What are the cardinal signs of meningitis?
Neck stiffness, photophobia, headache, fever.
Describe the appearance of CSF in bacterial meningitis
Cloudy, turbid with high protein and low glucose
What does a CN III palsy indicate in the context of head injury
Eye down, out, and dilated; suspect extradural/epidural hematoma.
Name the components of the classic triad in Cavernous Sinus Syndrome.
Vision loss, pain, ophthalmoplegia.
What is the most common type of multiple sclerosis?
Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS).
Identify the triad in Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Rapid muscle weakness, sensory changes, after infection.
What is the characteristic finding in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
Weakness that improves with exercise, particularly in lower limbs
What are the common features of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy?
Backward falls, problems with vision, speech, and swallowing.
What is the classic presentation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?
Muscle weakness, atrophy, stiffness, spastic ataxic gait.
Describe the classic triad in Tuberous Sclerosis.
Ash-leaf spots, shagreen patches, facial angiofibromas.
Differentiate between NF1 and NF2 in Neurofibromatosis.
NF1 - café-au-lait spots, NF2 - bilateral vestibular schwannomas.
What is the first-line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazepine
Name the medication used for prophylaxis in cluster headaches.
Verapamil
Define the classic triad of symptoms in trigeminal neuralgia.
Sudden severe, stabbing pain along V2/V3, triggered by touch.
Name the common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults.
Neisseria meningitidis.
Differentiate between acute and normal-pressure hydrocephalus.
Acute - raised ICP symptoms, normal-pressure - dementia, ataxia, incontinence.
What is the management for myasthenia gravis?
Pyridostigmine.
Identify the typical symptoms of Lewy body dementia.
Hallucinations and Parkinsonism.
What is the mainstay treatment for Parkinson’s disease?
Levodopa + domperidone for nausea and vomiting.
Define Todd’s paresis in the context of epilepsy.
Postictal weakness following a seizure.
What are the distinctive features of multiple sclerosis?
Gradual visual disturbances, peculiar sensory changes, relapses and remissions.
Differentiate between tonic-clonic seizures and pseudoseizures.
Tonic-clonic: loss of consciousness, pseudoseizures: no loss of consciousness.
Define Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.
Smoking-related spinal cord compression; pain, motor deficits, sensory deficits.
Describe the classic presentation of Syringomyelia.
Shawl-like sensation loss, particularly pain and temperature.
What are the cardinal symptoms of vestibular schwannoma?
Vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus.
How does hydrocephalus present with raised pressure?
Headache, nausea, blurred vision, papilloedema.
What is the primary pharmacological treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine).
Describe the key features of vascular dementia.
Abrupt onset, stepwise decline, focal neurological signs.
Identify the most common subtype of frontotemporal dementia.
Pick’s Disease, characterized by personality change, impaired social conduct, and weight gain.
Differentiate between frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital seizures.
Frontal - motor symptoms; Parietal - sensory symptoms; Temporal - ‘HEAD’ (Hallucinations, Epigastric rising/Emotional, Automatisms, Deja vu); Occipital - affects eyes.
What is the primary treatment for migraines?
Acute: sumatriptan; Prophylaxis: topiramate or propranolol.
Describe the typical presentation of myasthenia gravis.
Gradual muscle weakness, often starting with extraocular and facial muscles, worsens with exercise.
Differentiate between Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson-plus syndromes.
Parkinson’s disease - bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity; Parkinson-plus syndromes - additional features like backward falls (MSA), vision problems (PSP).
What is the primary pathology in Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
Acute autoimmune demyelination of peripheral nerves.