Neurology Flashcards
Neurotransmitter that is decreased in Huntington’s dementia and Alzheimer’s dementia
ACETYLCHOLINE
Neurotransmitter found in locus ceruleus of pons
NOREPINEPHRINE
Neurotransmitter found in the substantia nigra
DOPAMINE
Neurotransmitter found in the median raphe of the brainstem
SEROTONIN
Main inhibitory neurotransmitter found in spinal interneurons
GLYCINE
Main inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the brain
GABA
Output pathway from reward and punishment centers, lesions here will produce anterograde amnesia
HIPPOCAMPUS
Helps search memory storehouses, lesions here will produce retrograde amnesia
THALAMUS
Cranial nerve for general sensation (e.g. pain) of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
CN V
Highly characteristic of posterior fossa brain tumors
VOMITING THAT PRECEDES HEADACHE
Dominant symptom in temporal (giant cell) arteritis
HEADACHE
Most common primary headache syndrome
MIGRAINE, TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE, AND CLUSTER HEADACHE
Key pathway for pain in migraine
TIGEMINOVASCULAR INPUT FROM THE MENINGEAL VESSELS
Most disabling headache
MIGRAINE
Mainstay of pharmacologic treatment in migraine
JUDICIOUS USE OF ONE OR MORE DRUGS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE IN MIGRAINE
Most important factor in selection of the optimal regimen for a migraine patient
SEVEREITY OF THE ATTACK
Most efficacious of the triptans
RIZATRIPTAN AND ELETRIPTAN
Core feature of cluster headache
PERIODICITY
Most satisfactory treatment in cluster headache
ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS TO PREVENT CLUSTER ATTACKS UNTIL THE BOUT IS OVER
Most serious cause of secondary headache
SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE
Classic headache associated with a brain tumor
MORE EVIDENT IN THE MORNING AND IMPROVES DURING THE DAY
Preferred diagnostic test for any patient suspected of having a brain tumor
CRANIAL MRI and should be performed with gadolinium contrast administration
The only test necessary to diagnose a brain tumor
NEUROIMAGING
Glucocorticoid of choice for brain tumors because of its relatively low mineralocorticoid activity
DEXAMETHASONE
Most common primary brain tumor of childhood
GRADE 1 ASTROCYTOMAS: PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMAS
Most common primary brain tumor overall
MENINGIOMAS
Most common malignant brain tumor of childhood
MEDULLOBLASTOMAS
Most common malignant tumor overall
GRADE IV ASTROCYTOMA (GLIOBLASTOMA)
Meningiomas are most commonly located ove the
CEREBRAL CONVEXITIES
Main differential diagnosis of meningioma
DURAL METASTASIS
Most common schwannomas
VESTIBULAR SCHWANNOMAS OR ACOUSTIC NEUROMAS
Most common site of brain metastases
GRAY MATTER-WHITE MATTER JUNCTION
85% opf all brain metastases are
SUPRATENTORIAL
Most common sources of brain metastases
LUNG AND BREAST CANCER
Malignancy with greatest propensity for brain metastasis, found in 80% of patients at autopsy
MELANOMA