Neurology Flashcards
Sudden onset headache and neck pain on left side. Left side ptosis and small pupil. What is the most likely diagnosis?
What is the best investigation to confirm this diagnosis?
Carotid artery dissection
CT/MR angiogram of intra and extra-cranial vessels
What are the 3 possible diagnostic criterias for Neurofibromatosis type 2?
Bilateral acoustic neuroma - pathognomic
First degree relative with NF2 and either a unilateral acoustic neuroma or 2 of meningioma, schwannoma, glioma, cerebreal calcifications, posterior subcapsular lens opacity.
What are the 6 diagnostic features of neurofibromatosis type 1?
6+ cafe au lait spots
2+ dermal neurofibromas and 1+ plexiform neurofibromas
Axillary or inguinal freckling
Optic Nerve Glioma
Sphenoid wing dysplasia or thinning/bending of long bones
Confirmed first degree relative with NF1
What is the common presentation of trigeminal neuralgia?
Sudden onset severe pain in V3 > V2 > V1. Electric shock in nature lasting a few seconds per episode
What are the aggravating factors of trigeminal neuralgia?
Light touch, talking, eating, cold wind
What is the first line treatment of trigeminal neuralgia?
A anti-convulsant such as carbamazepine
What are the common side effects of carbamazepine?
Aplastic anaemia, steven johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, arrhythmias and hepatitis
A patient presents with ptosis, diplopia, fatigable weakness, weakness of jaw = hanging jaw sign. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Myasthenia gravis
What hormone does the pineal gland produce?
Melatonin
A patient presents with a severe headache and say it really hurts when they are brushing their hair. They also have mentioned that they are having aches in the their body as well as specifically in their jaw after eating. As well as their vision seeming to be getting some double vision. O/E there is some redness in the temporal area which is tender. They have a slight temperature
What would be the next step in the diagnosis of this patient based on the most likely diagnosis? (and what would be the gold standard diagnosis test)
Bloods - CRP and ESR
- elevated CRP and normal ESR or normal CRP and elevated ESR is indicative.
Gold standard
- temporal biopsy
!GCA!
What is the treatment for Giant cell arteritis?
Glucocorticoid such as prednisolone for several years (dose being lowered as treatment progresses)
What is a complication of GCA if it is not diagnosed or acted on quickly?
Permanent vision loss
Where is the likely lesion to be in a patient with inferior homonymous quadrantanopia?
Superior optic chiasm
Whats is Hemibalism? - and what is the cause?
Rare hyperkinetic disorder of the proximal limbs. Lesion in the subthalamic nucleus of the basal ganglia.
In what time period of a stroke onset can a patient have thrombolysis?
4.5 hours
Where in the brain is most affected by the deposition of huntingtin protein in early huntington’s disease? - what in particular does this cause?
Striatum - resulting in excess movement.
What parkinson’s medication is has side effects including gambling and sex addictions as well as reduced inhibitions (manic symptoms)
Ropinirole
A patient known to have alcohol dependence comes into A&E shaking and confused then has a seizure what would be the best treatment?
Rectal Diazepam
What is the first line treatment for a patient when they are having a status epilepticus if IV access is available?
IV Lorazepam
What is the first line treatment for a patient when they are having a status epilepticus if IV access isn’t available?
And if that doesn’t work what is the next option?
Oral Midazolam
oral Phenytoin
What is the gold standard test for acute stroke?
CT scan - as most readily available
There is a aneurysm of the superior cerebellar arteries and posterior cerebral arteries what is the most likely sign?
Right eye looking down and out. Due to involvement of the oculomotor nerve.
What is Brown-Sequard syndrome and what are the symptoms?
Hemisection to half of the spinal cord. Loss of sensations and motor. - Pain, temperature and touch
What are the 4 causes of a ischaemic stroke?
Thrombus
Embolism
Cerebral Venous sinus thrombosis
systemic hypoperfusion
What are the 3 layers of meninges from outer to inner?
Dura
Arachnoid
Pia
What supplies blood supply to the lateral aspect of the cerebrum?
Middle cerebral artery
What does the anterior cerebral artery supply blood to?
Anteromedial aspect of brain
What does the posterior cerebral artery supply?
medial and lateral posterior cerebrum
A patient presents with left sided weakness of leg, arm and face. They also admit to not being able to see much on the left side of their vision. They also appear to be struggling to recognise people’s faces. WHat is the most likely diagnosis?
Total anterior circulation stroke
Of the right side