Neurology Flashcards
What is a dermatome?
Area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve
What is a myotome?
Volume of muscle supplied by a single spinal nerve
Where does light touch travel in the brain to?
Fasciculus gracilis and cuneatus on both sides
What % of strokes are embolic?
85%
What can embolus at a vertebral artery cause?
- Deafness
- Dizziness
- Cerebral disease
- Problems with motor coordination
What are the types of intercranial haemorrhage?
- Extradural
- Subdural
- Subarachnoid
- Intracerebral
What layer of the meninges forms part of the BBB?
Pia mater
Where does the circle of Willis lie?
Subarachnoid space
What can cause extradural haemorrhage?
- Trauma
- Fractured skull
- Bleeding from middle meningeal artery
What are the signs of extradural haemorrhage?
- Lucid period
- Rapid rise in ICP
- Coma
What is the pathophysiology of subdural haemorrhage?
- Bleeding from bridging veins, low pressure so stops soon
- Days later haematoma starts to autolyse
- Increase in oncotic and osmotic pressure sucks water into haematoma
- Gradual rise in ICP
Who is at risk of subdural haemorrhage?
- Alcoholics
- Dementia
- Shaken babies
What can cause subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Berry aneurysms
What is the pathophysiology of subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Rupture of arteries forming circle of Willis
What are the symptoms of subarachnoid haemorrhage?
- Sudden onset severe headache
- Photophobia
- Reduced consciousness
- Thunderclap headache
What methods can be used to investigate vessels?
- Angiogram
- CT
- MRI
What level do common carotid arteries bifurcate?
C3-C4
Where does the cervical ICA run?
Behind and then medial to ECA
Where does the petrous ICA run?
Penetrates temporal bone and runs horizontally in carotid canal
Where does the cavernous ICA run?
In cavernous sinus
What does cavernous ICA supply?
- Dura mater
- CN 3-6
- Posterior pituitary
What are the key branches of the supraclinoid ICA?
- Ophthalmic artery
- Superior hypophyseal arteries
- Posterior communicating artery
- Anterior choroidal artery
Which MCA branches run laterally to limen insulae?
Lateral lenticulostriate branches (M1)
Why are the lateral lenticulostriate branches a key territory for infarct?
They are terminal branches with no anastomoses
What do lateral lenticulostriate arteries supply?
- Lentiform nucleus
- Caudate nucleus
- Internal capsule
Where do most strokes occur?
Middle cerebral artery
What does the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) supply?
Medulla and inferiore cerebellum
What artery is usually blocked in strokes of young people?
Basilar artery
What supplies primary visual cortex?
Posterior cerebral artery
What are the primary headache types?
- Migraine
- Cluster
- Tension type
What are the secondary headache types?
- Meningitis
- SAH
- GCA
- Idiopathic intracranial HTN
- Medication overuse headache
What are the risk factors for secondary headache?
- > 50
- Hx of HIV/cancer
- Changing personality or cognitive dysfunction
- Vomiting without other obvious cause
What is seen on examination for secondary headache?
- Fever
- Altered consciousness
- Neck stiffness
- Other abnormal neurological exam e.g. weakness
What are the red flags for brain tumours?
- New headache with Hx cancer
- Cluster headache
- Seizure
- Significantly altered consciousness, confusion
- Papilloedema
- Other abnormal nerve exam
How long do migraines last?
4-72hr
Describe a migraine
- Unilateral
- Pulsing
- Moderate/severe
- Aggravation by routine physical activity
What other symptoms can occur during a migraine?
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Photophobia
- Phonophobia
How many migraine pt. have auras?
20%
What can auras consist of?
- Fully reversible visual symptoms with positive +/- negative features
- Fully reversible dysphasic speech disturbance
How long do tension headaches last?
30 mins to 7 days
Describe a tension headache
- Bilateral
- Pressing/tightening quality
- Mild or moderate intensity
- Not aggravated by routine physical activity
What other symptoms are present with a tension headache?
- Anorexia
2. Photophobia OR phonophobia
Describe a cluster headache
- Severe or very severe
- Unilateral
- Orbital, supraorbital and/or temporal pain
- 15-180 min if untreated
What are the accompanying features of cluster headaches?
- Ipsilateral cranial autonomic features
2. Sense of restlessness or agitation
What happens in episodic cluster headaches?
> 2 cluster periods lasting 7 days to 1 year separated by pain free periods lasting >1 month
What happens in chronic cluster headaches?
Attacks occur for >1 year without remission or with remission lasting <1 month
What are the characteristics of trigeminal neuralgia?
- Recurring in paroxysmal attacks from a fraction of a second to 2 mins
- Severe intensity
- Electric shock like, shooting, stabbing or sharp
- Precipitated by innocuous stimuli to affected side of face
What is the Rx for primary headache?
- Oral triptan and NSAID/paracetamol
- Anti-emetic
- Topiramate
- Propranolol
- Amitriptyline
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
- Headache
- Pyraxial
- Photophobia
- Neck stiffness + pyrexia
- Rash
What is the Ix for SAH?
- CT
- LP
- Angiography
What is the Rx for SAH?
- Resuscitation
- Nimodipine
- Intervention to prevent re-bleeding
What are the symptoms of raised ICP?
- Worse on waking
- Worse coughing, sneezing
- Worse lying down
- N&V
- Papilloedema
What are the risk factors for idiopathic intracranial HTN?
- Obesity
2. Drugs e.g. tetracycline
What is the symptoms for idiopathic intracranial HT?
- Raised ICP headache
- Visual disturbance
- Papilloedema
What are the Ix for idiopathic intracranial HTN?
- CT
- LP (high opening pressure)
- MRI
What is the Rx for idiopathic intracranial HTN?
Acetazolamide, topiramate, diuretics
What are the criteria for giant cell arteritis (GCA)?
- > 50
- New headache
- Temporal artery abnormality (tender, decreased pulsation)
- ESR >50
- Biopsy abnormality
What are the red flags for GCA?
- > 50
2. Jaw claudication
What are the main causes of a chronic daily headache?
- Chronic migraine
2. Medication overuse headache
How often does medication overuse headache occur?
> 15 days/month
Describe medication overuse headache
Developed or markedly worse during drug use
Give 3 types of drugs that can cause medication overuse headache
- Ergotamine
- Opioids
- Triptans
What is the pathophysiology of meningitis?
- Bacteria enter CSF and replicate as no immune system
- Leaky blood vessels let WBC into CSF
- Inflammation causes brain swelling
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Photophobia
- Fever
- Altered consciousness
Which age is most at risk of bacterial meningitis?
Children <5 years
What are the complications of bacterial meningitis?
- Skin scars
- Amputation
- Hearing loss
- Seizures
- Brain damage
What is the Rx for bacterial meningitis in primary care?
Benzylpenicillin
What is the immediate management for bacterial meningitis in hospital?
- Stabilise ABCs
- Assess Glasgow coma score
- Blood cultures
- Broad spectrum Abx
- Steroids (dexamethasone)
What Abx are given for bacterial meningitis?
- Ceftriaxone
2. Cefotaxime
What are the indications for neuroimaging before LP?
- Focal neurological signs
- Presence of papilloedema
- Continuous or uncontrolled seizures
- GCS <12
What are the contraindications to LP?
- Respiratory or cardiac compromise
- Abnormal clotting
- Severe sepsis or rapidly evolving rash
- Raised ICP
- Infection at site of LP
What is the most common meningitis bug?
Neisseria meningitidis
Describe neisseria meningitidis
Gram negative diplococci (N for Negative)
What is the Dx if Neisseria meningitidis is found in blood culture?
Meningococcal septicaemia
Give 3 other common causes of bacterial meningitis
- Strep. pneumonia
- Listeria spp.
- Group B strep
What viruses can cause acute meningitis?
- Herpes simplex virus
- Varicella zoster virus
- Enterovirus
What can cause chronic meningitis?
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Syphilis
- Cryptococcal
What are the risk factors for bacterial meningitis?
- Students
- Travel
- Immunosuppressed
What is the CSF appearance in bacterial meningitis?
Cloudy
What is the DDx for meningitis?
- SAH
- Primary headache
- Flu/viral illness
- Sinusitis
- Brain abscess
What is given to close contacts of a meningitis pt.?
Ciprofloxacin
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of brain parenchyma
What is the most common cause of encephalitis?
Herpes simplex virus
What are the early symptoms of encephalitis?
- Flu like illness
- Headache
- Fever
- Confusion
- N&V
What are the late symptoms of encephalitis?
- Altered GCS (confusion, coma)
- Fever
- Cognitive impairment
- Seizures
What are the Ix for encephalitis?
- MRI head
- EEG
- LP
- HIV test
What is the Rx for encephalitis?
- Physio and neuro rehab
2. Aciclovir
What are the long term effects of encephalitis?
- Severe amnesic syndrome
- Neurological deficit
- Personality change
- Speech problems
What causes tetanus infection?
Inoculation through skin with Clostridium tetani spores
What toxins are produced by Clostridium tetani?
- Tetanolysin
2. Tetanospasmin
What is the pathophysiology of tetanus?
- Tetanospasmin travels up axons via retrograde flow
- Interferes with inhibitory NT release
- Excitatory neurons act unopposed (more firing)
- Continuous muscle contraction/spasm
What is the incubation period of tetanus?
3 to 21 days
What are the signs of generalised tetanus?
- Risus sardonicus (Satanic smile)
2. Opisthotonos (whole body spasm)
What is the management of tetanus?
- Vaccine
- Muscle relaxants
- Paracetamol
- Immunoglobulin
- Metronidazole
What are the symptom of rabies?
- Flu-like symptoms
- Paraesthesia at bite site
- Cerebral dysfunction
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Hydrophobia
- Insomnia
What is the Rx for rabies?
- Supportive
2. Prophylaxis (vaccine, immunoglobulin)
What is the key sign of 3rd nerve palsy?
Fixed dilated pupil
What type of thrombosis is OCP a risk for in the venous sinuses?
Sagittal sinus thrombosis
What are the names of the holes that allow CSF from ventricles into subarachnoid space?
Magendie (midline) and Luschka (lateral)
What is the result of the Magendie and Luschka holes being blocked?
Obstructive hydrocephalus
What are the symptoms of cerebellar syndrome?
- Ataxia
- Nystagmus
- Drunken feeling
What are the structures associated with the brainstem?
- CN III-XII
- Descending motor tracts (pyramidal)
- Ascending sensory tracts (Lemnisci)
- Reticular activation
- Cerebellar peduncles
What does the reticular activating system control?
- Alertness
- Sleep/wake
- REM/non REM sleep
- Respiratory centre
- Cardiovascular drive
What are the sights of cavernous sinus syndrome?
- Facial numbness
- Paralytic squint
- Fixed dilated pupil
What are the consequences of middle ear infection?
- Deafness
2. Facial palsy
What is the condition associated with rapid changes in serum Na?
Central pontine myelonecrosis
What are the criteria for brainstem death?
- Pupils
- Corneal reflex
- Caloric vestibular reflex
- Cough reflex
- Gag reflex
- Respirations
- Response to pain
What part of the NS is affected in MS?
CNS
What is the common age of onset for MS?
20-40
What are the risk factors for MS?
- Caucasian
- Female
- Latitude
- Low Vit D
- Genetics
What is the pathophysiology of MS?
Exposure to antigen which drives system to produce auto reactive lymphocytes which are detrimental and cause demyelination and inflammation
What is Eutoph’s phenomenon?
Remyelinated cells will have thin myelin and pt. never fully recover
What are the most common patterns of MS?
- Macrophage mediated
2. Antibody mediated
What are the typical symptoms of MS?
- Optic neuritis
- Spasticity
- Sensory symptoms
- Lhermitte’s sign
- Nystagmus, double vision
- Bladder and sexual dysfunction
What are the diagnostic criteria for MS?
- 2+ CNS lesions disseminated in time and space
2. Exclusion of conditions giving a similar clinical picture
What are the Ix for MS?
- MRI
2. CSF - inflammatory proteins
What is the DDx for MS?
- SLE
- Syphilis
- Lyme disease
- Sjogren’s syndrome
What are the Rx for MS?
- Steroids - betaferon
- Methylprednisolone
- Nataluzimab
- Diazepam
- Treat symptoms
Describe fatigue in MS
- Exacerbated by heat
- Improved by cool temperatures
- Makes other symptoms appear worse
What is the DDx for epilepsy?
- Hypoglycaemia
- Migraine
- Postural syncope
- TIA
What are the main reasons for loss of consciousness?
- Cardiac/BP related
- Epileptic seizures
- Dissociative seizures
What is epilepsy?
Recurrent, unprovoked epileptic seizures
What is an epileptic seizure?
A paroxysmal event in which changes of behaviour, sensation or cognitive processes are caused by excessive, hyper synchronous neuronal discharges in brain
How long does a seizure last?
30-120s
What are positive ictal symptoms?
Excessive e.g. seeing, hearing, feeling that isn’t there
What are postictal symptoms?
Follow positive ictal symptoms e.g. weakness, loss of function
Give 2 examples of typical seizure phenomena?
- Lateral tongue bite
2. Deja vu
What is syncope?
Paroxysmal event in which changes in behaviour, sensation and cognitive processes are caused by an insufficient blood or oxygen supply to brain
How long does a syncope last?
5-30s
What are pre syncopal symptoms?
- Stars over whole visual field
- Noises distorted
- Dizzy
- Light headed
- Vision goes black
What is a non-epileptic seizure (NES)?
Paroxysmal event in which changes in behaviour, sensation and cognitive function caused by mental processes associated with psychosocial distress
What are the factors suggestive of epilepsy?
- Tongue biting
- Head turning
- Muscle pain
- LOC >5 min
- Cyanosis
- Postictal confusion
What are the factors suggestive of syncope?
- Prolonged upright position
- Sweating prior to LOC
- Nausea
- Pallor
What are 5 factors suggestive of NES?
- Pelvic thrusting
- Long duration
- Closed eyes
- Ictal crying
- No cyanosis
What is the first line Rx for structural epilepsy?
Carbamazepine or lamotrigine
When is genetic generalised epilepsy most common?
Childhood
What is first line treatment for genetic generalised epilepsy?
Valproate or lamotrigine
What seizure types are associated with structural epilepsy?
- Partial seizure with(out) LOC
2. Secondary generalised seizures
What seizure types are associated with genetic generalised epilepsy?
- Absence seizures
- Myoclonic seizures
- Primary generalised tonic clonic seizures
Give 3 drugs that can treat focal seizures
- Carbamazepine
- Phenytoin
- Vigabatrin
Give 3 drugs that can treat focal and generalised seizures
- Valproate
- Lamotrigine
- Topiramate
Give 2 drugs that can treat generalised seizures
- Ethosuximide
2. Rufinamide
What are the mechanisms of action of AEDs?
- Inhibit excitatory cells
- Increase activity of inhibitory interneurons
- Inhibit post-synaptic cells so it is less sensitive to excitatory NT
What are the Rx for refractory epilepsy?
- Resective surgery
- Hemispherectomy
- Tractotomy
- Electrostimulation
- Vagus nerve stimulation
What are the symptoms of lateral medullary syndrome on ipsilateral side?
- Horner’s syndrome
- Limb ataxia
- Loss of facial sensation
- Dysarthria
- Dysphagia
What are the symptoms of lateral medullary syndrome on contralateral side?
Loss of pain and temperature sensation
Where is sense lost if there is a lesion to dorsal column?
Ipsilateral side
What are the symptoms of Brown Squared syndrome at level of lesion?
Ipsilateral spinothalamic
What are the symptoms of Brown Squared syndrome below lesion?
- Ipsilateral corticospinal tract dysfunction
- Ipsilateral dorsal column dysfunction
- Contralateral spinothalamic tract dysfunction
What are the causes of secondary damage as a result of head injury?
- Physiological response to trauma
- Effects of hypoxia/ischaemia
- Infection
What does skull fracture increase risk of?
- Haematoma
- Infection
- Aerocele
How do extradural haematoma cause death?
- Brain displacement
- Raised ICP
- Herniation
What is the pathophysiology of subdural haematoma?
Tear to bridging veins
What are the risk factors for subdural haematoma?
- Age
- Dementia
- Alcohol
What are the causes of traumatic SAH?
- Contusion/laceration
- Base of skull fracture
- Vertebral artery rupture/dissection
- Intraventricular haemorrhage
What causes superficial cerebral haemorrhage?
Severe contusion
What causes deep cerebral haemorrhage?
Diffuse axonal injury
What are the long term effects of diffuse traumatic axonal injury?
- Thinning of corpus callosum
2. Gliding contusions
What are the causes of brain swelling?
- Congestive brain swelling
- Vasogenic oedema
- Cytotoxic oedema
What are the complications of hypoxia ischaemia (HI)?
- Infarction
2. Hypoxic ischaemic damage
Which brain part is most susceptible to HI?
Hippocampus
What are the symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)?
- Personality change
- Memory problems
- Epilepsy
- Parkinsonism
- Gait problems
What is the pathophysiology of CTE?
- Atrophy
- Enlarged ventricles with fenestrated cavuum septum
- Tau-positive neurofibrillary and astrocytic tangles
What is the diagnostic criteria for CTE?
Both neurons and astrocytes effected
What innervates muscle spindles?
Gamma motor neurones
What happens when a muscle is stretched?
- Afferent impulses from muscle spindles
2. Reflex partial contraction of muscle
What are the potential sites of damage to motor neurons?
- Motor nuclei
- Motor neurons
- Spinal ventral roots
- Peripheral nerves
- NMJ
- Muscle
What are the clinical features of LMN lesions?
- Muscle tone reduced
- Muscle wasting
- Fasciculation
- Depressed reflexes
What is the pathophysiology of MND?
- Motor neuron damaged
- Muscle loses electrical supply
- Muscle wastage
What are the investigations for LMN conditions?
- Neurophysiology nerve conduction
- MRI head/spine
- Bloods e.g. muscle enzymes, peripheral neuropathy screen
- LP
What are the neural inputs into the final common pathway?
- Reflex arc
- Corticospinal pathway
- Extrapyramidal system
- Cerebellum
What is the corticospinal tract?
A major descending pathway connecting LMN and UMN, important in control of voluntary movements
Where do most corticospinal tract fibres crossover?
Medullary pyramid
What are the clinical features of upper motor neuron pathology?
- Spasticity
- Tendon reflexes are brisk
- Babinski sign
- Limb muscle weakness
- Emotional lability
What is the pattern of limb muscle weakness in UMN pathology?
- Upper limbs extensors weaker than flexors
- Low limbs flexors weaker than extensors
- Finer movements severely impaired
What are the common causes of UMN pathology?
- Stroke
- MS
- Spinal compression
- Tumour
- MND
What are the Ix for UMN pathologies?
- MRI brain/spine
- Blood tests for metabolic disorder
- CSF examination e.g. oligoclonal bands
What are the cardinal symptoms of brain tumour?
- Raised ICP symptoms
- Progressive neurological deficit
- Epilepsy
What are the symptoms of raised ICP?
- Headache
- Reduced conscious level
- N+V
Where are the commonest brain metastases from?
- Lung
- Breast
- Colorectal
- Testicular
- Renal cell
What is the most common primary brain tumour type?
High grade glioma (HGG)
What distinguishes stage of brain tumours?
- Cellularity
- Mitotic activity
- Vascular proliferation
- Necrosis
Describe a low grade glioma (LGG)
Slow growing but will undergo anapaestic transformation
When is LGG most often diagnosed?
Age 35
Give 4 prognostic factors for LGG
- Histology type
- Age
- Size of tumour
- Location
What is the median age of onset for HGG?
45-60
What are the causes of HGG?
- Ionising radiation
- FHx
- Immunosuppression
What are the symptoms of brain tumours?
- Headache
- Seizures
- Focal neurological symptoms
- Behavioural changes
Describe a typical brain tumour headache
- Woken by headache
- Worse in morning
- Postural
- N&V associated
What are the focal symptoms of brain tumour?
- Weakness
- Sensory loss
- Visual/speech disturbance
- Ataxia
What are the non-focal symptoms of brain tumour?
- Personality change
- Memory disturbance
- Confusion
What are the signs of brain tumour?
- Papilloedema
- Hemiparesis
- Hemisensory loss
- Visual field defect
- Dysphagia
What are the investigations for brain tumour?
- CT contrast
- MRI
- Brain biopsy
- Molecular markers
What are the Rx for HGG?
- Steroids
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemo - temozolomide
What are the Rx for LGG?
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
What are the symptoms of pituitary tumour?
- Excessive hormone production
- Visual field problems
- Inadequate hormone production
What are the Rx for secondary brain tumour?
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemo
- Supportive care
What form is used in primary care the assess cognitive function?
6CIT
What are the symptoms of dementia?
- Memory loss
- Problem solving
- Language
What is seen on the brain of Alzheimer’s (AD) pt.?
- EX amyloid plaques
2. IC neurofibrillary tangles
What are the features seen in AD?
- Gradual and progressive change in memory function >6m
2. Impaired performance on episodic memory test
What lobes tend to be affected in AD?
Temporal and parietal lobes
What is the DDx for AD?
- Vascular dementia
- Mixed dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Depressive pseudo dementia
What are the psychiatric changes in AD?
- Social withdrawal
- Apathy
- Delusions
- Agitation
What are the Ix for dementia?
- Memory tests
- MRI
- PET scan
- LP (more amyloid)
What is seen on a dementia MRI?
Atrophy
What is the Rx for dementia?
- Support
- Ach inhibitors
- Carers
- Prevention
- Memantine
What are functional symptoms?
Disorder of function of body, rather than structure
What are organic symptoms?
Structural problem with body which can be detected by examination or investigation
What is depleted in AD?
Acetyl choline
What is depleted in PD?
Serotonin, NA, DA
What causes psychosis in PD Rx?
Excess DA
What are acute neurological pathologies associated with?
Delirium or confusional states with prominent impairment of attention
What individual factors can affect psychiatric presentation?
- Age
- Sex
- Education
- Prior psychiatric Hx
What are the psychiatric symptoms of Wilson’s disease?
- Personality change
- Mood disturbance
- Psychosis
- Cognitive impairment
What are the psychiatric symptoms of Huntington’s?
- Subcortical dementia
- Anxiety
- Personality changes
- Hallucinations
What are the symptoms of fronto-temporal dementia?
- Apathy
- Anxiety
- Egocentricity
- Elevated mood
- Neglect personal appearance
What psychiatric problems can be caused by a stroke?
- Personality change
- Affective disorder
- Psychosis
What are the causes of transient global amnesia?
Migraine-like depression of temporal lobe function
What are somatisation disorders?
When physical symptoms are caused by mental or emotional factors
What is ataxia
Descriptive term for loss of coordination, clumsiness, tendency to fall
What is the output element of the cerebellum?
Purkinje cells
What are the symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction?
- Slurring of speech
- Unsteadiness
- Stumbles and falls
What are the examinations for cerebellar dysfunction?
- Gait
- Limb ataxia
- Eye movements
- Speech
- Sensory ataxia
What is the Ix for cerebellar dysfunction?
MRI head
What are the signs of cerebellar dysfunction?
- Nystagmus
- Dysarthria
- Action tremor
- Limb ataxia
- Gait ataxia
What gene is found in 71% of pt. with idiopathic sporadic ataxia?
HLA DQ2
What toxins can cause ataxia?
- Alcohol
- Phenytoin
- Lithium
What is the main neurodegenerative cerebellar dysfunction?
Multisystem atrophy - C
How many strokes are ischaemic?
85%
How many strokes are haemorrhagic?
15%
What is the main cause of intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke?
High BP
What is the DDx for stroke?
- Hypoglycaemia
- Migrainous aura
- Mass lesions
- Simple partial seizure
What is the management for TIA?
- Assess stroke risk with ACBD2 score
- Statin e.g. simvastatin
- Antiplatelet e.g. clopidogrel
- Treat BP if raised
Where do most brain tumours occur in children?
Posterior fossa
What is the most common neuroepithelial tumour?
Astrocytoma
What is the pathway of progression of astrocytoma?
- Cell of origin
- Astrocytoma
- Anaplastic astrocytoma
- Glioblastoma
When is oligodendroglioma most common?
4th-5th decades
Co-deletion of what gene gives a better prognosis of oligodendroglioma?
1p19q
What gene is mutated in neuroepithelial tumour?
IDH1
What indicates low grade lesions diagnostically?
Rosenthal fibres
How do secondary brain tumours often present?
More oedema
What is one of the major complications of raised ICP?
Herniation
What is the result of no intervention for internal herniation?
Haemorrhage
What is the prevalence of PD in >65s?
3%
What are the symptoms of PD?
- Bradykinesia
- Akinesia
- Tremor at rest
- Rigidity
What are the signs of PD?
- Shuffling gait
- Increased tone
- Asymmetrical reduced arm swing
- Rest tremor
- Decreasing amplitude of repetitive movement
What is seen in the brain of a PD pt.?
Reduced substantia nigra
How is PD diagnosed?
- Examination and Hx
- DaTSCAN - reduced DA
- CT head
What are the Rx for PD?
- L-DOPA
- DA agonist e.g. ropinirole
- COMT inhibitors
- MAO-B inhibitors e.g. rasagiline
- Anticholinergics
What are the side effects of anticholinergics?
- Cognition
- Confusion
- Systemic
What are the complications of PD?
- Depression
- Dementia
- Constipation
- Anxiety
- Increased urinary frequency
What symptoms are NOT seen in PD at the start?
- Dementia
- Incontinence
- Symmetry
- Early falls
What are the symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
- Magnetic gait
- Incontinence
- Dementia
How is normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosed?
Enlarged ventricles on CT head
What is the Rx for normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Surgical shunt
What is the Rx for essential tremor?
- Beta blockers
- Primidone
- Gabapentin
What are the cardinal features of Huntington’s disease (HD)?
- Chorea
- Dementia
- Psychiatric problems
- Positive FHx
What are the signs of HD?
- Abnormal eye movement
- Chorea
- Ataxia
- Parkinsonism
What is the Rx for HD?
Treat symptoms
- Sulpride
- SSRIs
- Haloperidol
- Risperidone
What is mononeuropathy?
Problem with one nerve
What is polyneuropathy?
Problem with many nerves
What is the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Median nerve entrapment at wrist
What are the symptoms of peripheral neuropathies (PN)?
- Ataxia
- Muscle cramp
- Weakness
- Fasciculations
- Atrophy
How are axonal PN classified?
- Symmetrical sensorimotor
- Asymmetrical sensory
- Asymmetrical sensorimotor
What is the presentation of symmetrical sensorimotor PN?
Tingling in fingers or toes which moves more proximal then motor symptoms start
What is affected in asymmetrical sensory PN?
Dorsal root ganglia
What is seen on clinical examination in PN?
- Reduced or absent tendon reflexes
- Sensory deficit
- Weakness
How are PN diagnosed?
- Nerve conduction test
2. Questionnaires
What is seen in demyelinating PN on nerve conduction?
Slow conduction velocities
What is seen in nerve conduction for PN with axonal problems?
Reduced amplitudes of potentials
What are 4 causes of axonal PN?
- HIV
- Vasculitis
- Porphyria
- Hepatitis
What systemic disease are associated with PN?
- DM
- Vit B12 deficiency
- Coeliac disease
What are the main types of Guillain Barre syndrome?
- Demyelinating
- Axonal motor
- Axonal sensorimotor
What is the presentation of Guillain Barre syndrome?
Rapid ascending paralysis and sensory deficits
What is the usual cause of Guillain Barre syndrome?
Campylobacter GI infection
What is the Rx for Guillain Barre syndrome?
IVIG plasma exchange
What are the Rx for PN?
- Pain e.g. gabapentin
- Cramps e.g. quinine
- Balance e.g. physio
What does an anterior circulation stroke block?
Artery from or off circle of Willis
What does posterior circulation stroke block?
Basilar or vertebral arteries
Stroke to what vessel causes the biggest deficit?
MCA
What are the symptoms of ACA stroke?
- Leg weakness
- Sensory disturbance in legs
- Gait apraxia
- Incontinence
- Drowsiness
How is stroke diagnosed?
CT head
What are the symptoms of MCA stroke?
- Contralateral arm and leg weakness
- Contralateral sensory loss
- Hemianopia
- Aphasia
- Facial droop
What are the symptoms of PCA stroke?
- Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
- Cortical blindess
- Headaches unilateral
- Prosopagnosia
- Visual agnosia
What are the symptoms of posterior circulation strokes?
- Motor deficits
- Dysarthria
- Vertigo
- Visual disturbance
- Altered consciousness
What is the Rx for stroke?
- Acitlyse (thrombolysis)
- Clot retrieval
- Interarterial thrombolysis
- Decompressive craniectomy
What is the risk management Rx for stroke?
- Aspirin
- Clopidogrel
- Statins
- Warfarin
- Antihypertensives
What are the symptoms of SC compression?
- Pain and stiffness in neck/back
- Sciatica
- Numbness in limbs
- Loss of sensation in feet
- Foot drop
How is SC compression diagnosed?
- XR spine (spurs)
- CT spine
- Bone scan
- EMG
What is the Rx for SC compression?
- NSAIDs
- Steroids high dose
- Radiation therapy
- Physical therapy
What are the symptoms of cauda equina syndrome?
- Low back pain
- Sciatica
- Saddle and perineal hypoesthesia
- Bowel disturbance
What are the Ix of cauda equina syndrome?
- MRI
2. Myleogram
What is the Rx for cauda equina syndrome?
- Surgery
2. Catheterisation
What nerve does carpel tunnel compress?
Median nerve
What are the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome?
- Numbness in first three fingers and thumb
- Pain that travels up arm
- Wrist pain at night
- Weakness in hand muscles
What are the Ix for carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Physical exam
- XR
- Electromyography
- Nerve conduction study
What is the Rx for carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Wrist splinting
- NSAIDs
- Corticosteroids
- Surgery
What is the pathophysiology of myaesthenia gravis?
Breakdown in normal communication between nerves and muscles
What are the symptoms are myaesthenia gravis?
- Ptosis
- Diplopia
- Impair speaking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Weak neck muscles
What is the Dx for myaesthenia gravis?
- Neurological exam
- Edrophonium test
- Ice pack test
- Nerve stimulation studies
- CT
What is the Rx for myaesthenia gravis?
- Pyridostigmine
- Neostigmine
- Prednisone
- Azathioprine