Neurology Flashcards
Name 3 common sites for metastases to the brain
Lung
Breast
Prostate
Risk factors for brain tumours
Family syndromes
Ionising radiation
X - Ray exposure
MEN - 1
Signs of ICP
Headache
Nausea
vomitting
Papilloedema
Warning signs for a headache
worse on:
- waking
- bending over
- lying down
- coughing
Cerebllar signs
DANISH D - Dydiadochockinesis A - Ataxia N - Nystagmus I - Intention tremor S - Slurred speech H - hypotonia
Clinical presentation of brain tumour
Paresis of limbs Speech disorder Dysphasia Seizures Personality changes Coma
Brain tumour investigations
- MRI with gadolinium contrast
- Biopsy + Histology
Causes of Cauda equina syndrome
Lumbar disc herniation
- L4/5
- L5/S1
Spinal verterbral fractures
Malignancy
Spinal infection
Spinal stenosis
- AS
CES red flags
- Reduced anal tone
- Bilateral sciatica
- Saddle anaesthesia
- Bowel dysfunction
- Bladder dysfunction
Urinary retention - Sexual dysfunction
Causes of cranial nerve lesions
Trauma Tumour SLE Herpes zoster Palsy
CN3 palsy presentation
- Eye down and out
- Ptosis
- Mydriasis
CN4 palsy presentation
- Eye down and In
- Diplopia when looking down
- Head tilt
CN7 palsy - UMN presentation
- Contralateral paralysis of facial muscles
- Forhead sparing
- Lip drooping
CN7 Palsy - LMN presentation
- Ipsialteral paralysis of facial muscles
- NO forhead sparing
- Loss of anterior 2/3 of taste
- Dry eyes
- Hyperacusis
- Lip droop
Causes of CN7 palsy
Inflammation of parotid
Middle ear infections
CN9 palsy presentation
Uvular deviation
decreased gag reflex
Risk factors for dementia
Age > 65 Family Hx Downs syndrome Smoking DM Head trauma
Genetic RF for dementia
Apolipoprotein E-E4
Deterministic gene - APP
Alzehimers
- Onset
- Sx and signs
- pathology/imaging
- gradual
- sx Aphasia Agnosia Apraxia Loss of STM + LTM Cognitive impairement Disorientated
Vascular
- Onset
- Sx and signs
- pathology/imaging
- Abrupt / gradual
- Sx
Stepwise deterioration
periods of stability - Areas of ischaemia present on imaging from previous CVA
Lewy body
- Onset
- Sx and signs
- pathology/imaging
- Insidious
- Sx Hallucinations Parkinsoism - Tremor - SLowing - Rigidity
- Deposition of abnormal proteins
Charecterisitc features of Alzehimers
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- Beta amyloid plaques
Alzehimers mangement
Cholinesterase inhibitors - Donepezil - Rivastigime - Galantamine Improves memeory and cognitive function
NDMA receptor antagonist
- Memantine
Viral causes of encephilitis
- Herpes simplex
- Varicella zoster
- CMV
- EBV
- MMR
Encephilits presentation
Fever Headache Odd behaviour Seizure Focal neurological deficits - Hemiparesis - Dysphasia
Encephalitis Investigations
1st - LP
2nd - MRI
3rd - swabs
What is recommended in all encephalitis patients
HIV testing
Ecepahlitis management
- Aciclovir
Metabolic causes of seizures
hypoglycaemia
hyponatraemia
hypoxia
What is the prodrome
not part of the seizure
- changes in mood and behaviour
- lasts hours to days
what is aura
part of a seizure
- patient is aware
- strange gut feeling
- De-javu
- strange smells
Where is a seizure with aura typically located
temporal lobe
What are localising features to a temporal lobe seizure
- automatisms
- dysphasia
- dejavu
- emotional disturbance
- hallucination of smell/taste
What are localising features to a frontal lobe seizure
- posturing
- pedalling leg movements
- jacksonian march
- motor arrest
- todds palsy
What are localising features to a parietal lobe seizure
- tingling
- numbess
- motor sx
Charecterisitc of a generalsied seizure
- LOC
- bilateral symmetrical motor movements
Features of tonic clonic seizure
- LOC
- limbs stiffen then jerk
- eyes open
- tongue bitten
- incontinence
- post ictal confusion
Features of myoclonic seizure
Sudden jerk of limb/trunk/face
Causes of status epilepticus
- abruptly stopping anti-epileptic medication
- alcohol use
- poor compliance to therapy
Status epilepticus tx
1st - Lorazepam
2nd - Phenytoin
3rd - Phenobarbital
Focal seizures tx
1st - Carbamazepine / Lamotrigrine
2nd - Sodium valporate
Adverse effects of Sodium valporate
Teratogenic
drug induced liver injury
pancreatitis
Adverse effects of carbamezapine
Teratogenic
Agranulocytosis
SIADH
Hyponatraemia
Adverse effects of lamotrigrine
severe skin reactions
Adverse effects of phenytoin
cardiac arrhythmias
What is GCA astrongly linked to
Polymyalgia rheumatica
GCA presentation
Unilateral headache scalp tenderness jaw claudication blurred vision fever vision loss - painless peripheral oedema
GCA investigations
Clinical presentation
bloods
- LFTs - Raised ALP
- FBC - Anaemia
Duplex US of temporal.A
Temporal.A biopsy
Findings from temporal artery biopsy in GCA
Multinucleated giant cells
GCA management
Prednisolone - 60mg
Asprin - 75mg
Omeprazole
What can occur if patients with GCA stop taking theor steroids
Adrenal crisis
What is Guillian barre syndrome
Progressive weakness of proximal muscles due to Ab against myselin sheath
GBS aetiology
Infection
- Campylobacter jejuni
- CMV
- EBV
GBS presentation
- Symmetrical ascending muscle weakness
- Pain in back
- Areflexia
- Parasthesia
- Flaccid paralysis
Criteria for diagnosing GBS
Brighton
GBS investigations
LP
- Raised protein but normal WCC
Nerve conduction studies
GBS differentials
Other causes of acute paralyis
- Stroke
- Encephalitis
- S.C compression
GBS managment
- IV immunoglobulins
- Plasma exchange
- Enoxaparin
What should you do prior to GBS tx
Screen for IgA deficiency
Causes of SAH
Aneurysmal
- ADPKD
- Atherosclerosis
- HTN
- Ruptured berry aneurysm
Non aneurysmal
- Trauma
- AV malformations
- Coagulopathies
SAH presntation - sx
thunderclap headache - occipital nausea vomitting collpase reduced consciousness seizure
SAH signs
Mengism
- photophobia
- stiff neck
- pain on neck flexion
+VE kernigs sign
What is kernigs sign
inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees.
SAH investigations
- Non contrast CT
- LP
negative CT but hx is suggestive
SAH findings and timings for LP
- 12hrs post sx
CSF analysis
- elevated red cell count
- Xanthochromia
SAH management
- ABCDE
- Fluids
- Analgesia
- Anti emetics
What should patients with SAH started on
Nimodipine
- reduces vasospasm
SAH complications
hydrocephalus
vasospasm - cerebral infarction
hyponatraemia
rebleeding
Subdural haemorrhage pathophsiology
Tearing of bridging veins
- deceleration injury
- blood accumulates
- raised ICP
- brain herniation
SDH risk factors
alcohol excess epileptics old age trauma clotting disorders
EDH clinical presentation
Initial LOC Lucid period headache nausea vomitting drowsiness
EDH presentation - signs
- drop in GCS
- Positive babinski sign
- Hypereflexia
- Blown pupil - ipsilateral