Neurology - Misc Flashcards
Shingles aetiology
VZV reactivation
Immunosuppression
- HIV
- Steroids
- Chemo
Age
Shingles presentation
Pre-eruptive
- Itching
- Burning
- B symptoms
PAINFUL RASH
- Dermatomal
- Small vesicles
- Clusters
If > 1 dermatome - Consider immunodeficiency or DDx
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
VZV infection in V1
Visual loss
Hutchinson sign - Vesicles on the tip of the nose
Shingles investigations
Clinical diagnosis
Shingles management
Acyclovir
Pain relief - Paracetamol / ibuprofen THEN... - Gabapentin - Pregabalin - Amitriptyline
Vaccination offered at 70 and 78
Bell’s palsy definition
Acute
Idiopathic
Unilateral
Facial nerve palsy
LMNL
Bell’s palsy causes
Idiopathic
Infection
- EBV
- HSV
SOL - Parotid tumour
GBS
Forceps delivery
^ Risk in pregnancy and diabetes
Bell’s palsy presentation
7th nerve palsy
Speech disturbance
Eating disturbance
Dry eyes
Taste - Loss of anterior 2/3
Post-auricular pain and numbness
Hearing - Hyperacusis
Gusto-lacrimal reflex - Crying when you eat
Bell’s palsy investigations
Serology
- VZV - Ramsay Hunt syndrome
CT/MRI to check for SOL
Bell’s palsy management
Prednisolone
Protect the eye
NO ANTIVIRALS
Bell’s palsy complications
Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Permanent in 15%
Spinal cord compression aetiology
Bone mets Disc prolapse Osteophytes EDH Pott's disease Infection Trauma - Brown sequard syndrome
Spinal cord compression presentation
Back pain - Unilateral
Reflexes ^
FND / incontinence - Cauda equina?
Spinal cord compression investigations
MRI
Bloods - Serology
FBC/INR - Warfarin
CXR - Mets
Spinal cord compression management
Dexamethasone IV
Treat cause
Cauda equina aetiology
Bone mets Disc prolapse Osteophytes EDH Pott's disease Infection Trauma - Brown sequard syndrome
Cauda equina presentation
Back pain
FND
Saddle numbness
Incontinence
Asymmetrical
Areflexia
Atrophic paralysis of leg
Cauda equina investigations
PR
Urgent MRI
Cauda equina management
Dexamethasone
Surgical decompression
Cauda equina complications
Paralysis
Sensory abnormality
Bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunction
MND pathophysiology
Apoptosis of motor neurons Superoxide dimutase (SOD1) mutation
MND types
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - Most common
- UMN + LMN
- Loss of neurons in motor cortex
Progressive bulbar palsy - Worst prognosis
- LMNL
- CN 9-12
Progressive muscular atrophy - LMN
Primary lateral sclerosis - UMN
UMN signs
Upgoing plantars
Increased reflexes
Clonus
Spasticity
NO wasting
LMN signs
Fasciculations
Decreased reflexes
Wasting / atrophy
MND presentation
UMN signs
LMN signs
Foot drop
Asymmetrical weakness
Wasting - Thenar muscles and anterior tibialis
MND bulbar signs
Dysphagia
Dysphasia
Dysarthria
Drooling
Emotionally labile
MND complications
Aspiration pneumonia Respiratory failure UTI Constipation Speech difficulties Immobility complications - Pressure sores
MND vs MS vs MG
MND
- No sphincter involvement
- No sensory involvement
- No ocular involvement
MS
- Sphincter involvement - Incontinence
MG
- Ocular involvement
MND investigations
Clinical diagnosis
El Escorial diagnostic criteria
EMG
- Decreased action potential
- Increased amplitude
MND management
Spasticity - Benzos
Feed - NG/PEG
Ventilation - NIV
Respiratory failure - Opioids
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Speech and language therapy
RILULOZE!!!
MND prognosis
2-4 years
Death from respiratory failure
Meningitis viral causes
HSV
EBV
Mumps
Adenovirus
Meningitis bacterial causes
Neonates
- GBS
- E. Coli
- Listeria
Adults
- N. meningitides
- Strep pyogenes
Meningitis presentation
- Fever
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
Photophobia
Rash - Purpuric non-blanching
Kernig’s sign
Brudzinski’s sign
Seizures
Coma
Meningitis investigations
LP - Contraindicated if ICP ^
Blood cultures
PCR - Viral?
FBC U/E CRP/ESR Glucose ABG
Meningitis LP findings
Bacterial
- Cloudy
- Polymorphonuclear lymphocytes
- Protein ^^
- Glucose - Low
Viral
- Clear
- Lymphocytes
- Protein ^
- Glucose - Normal or low
TB
- Cloudy
- Monocytes
- Protein ^^^
- Glucose - Low
Meningitis management
Community - IV BEN PEN
< 3 months - IV cefotaxime + amoxicillin
> 3 months - IV cefotaxime
Strep P - Dexamethasone
Listeria - Amoxicillin
Meningitis prophylaxis
Ciprofloxacin
Meningitis complications
Sensorineural deafness
Abscess
Septicaemia
Encephalitis aetiology
HSV
Enterovirus
HIV Mumps Measles Lyme disease TB
Encephalitis presentation
- Personality changes
- Fever
- Headache
FND
ICP ^
Seizures/coma
Encephalitis investigations
LP
Blood cultures
PCR
Clotting
ESR
EEG
CT - Temporal lobe involvement
Encephalitis management
IV acyclovir
Cerebral abscess aetiology
Strep anginosus
Otitis media
Mastoiditis
Dental infection
Endocarditis
Cerebral abscess presentation
Symptoms of SOL
- Headache
- FND
- Raised ICP
Symptoms of infection - Fever
Cerebral abscess infection locations
Otitis media
Mastoiditis
Dental infection
Endocarditis
Cerebral abscess investigations
CT
- Halo around lesion
- Ring enhancement
Bloods
- Cultures
- Leukocytosis
Cerebral abscess management
Ceftriaxone
Fluconazole
Drainage if ICP ^
Horner’s syndrome aetiology
STC
S - Central
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis
T - Preganglionic
- Tumour - Pancoast
- Thyroidectomy
- Trauma
- Cervical rib
C - Post-ganglionic
- Cluster headache
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis
- Carotid dissection
Horner’s syndrome presentation
Ptosis
Miosis
Anhidrosis
Enophthalmus
Horner’s syndrome investigations
Apraclonidine - Affected eye does not dilate
CT - Tumour?
CXR - Pancoast tumour?
Anterior cord syndrome aetiology
Ischaemia of the anterior spinal artery
- Most commonly due to aortic compromise
Anterior cord syndrome investigations
CT angio
Anterior cord syndrome presentation
Paralysis
Loss of pain and temperature sensation
Fine touch preserved - Dorsal column
Areflexia
Autonomic failure
- Urinary/bowel
- Sexual dysfunction
Acoustic neuroma presentation
Progressive…
CN8
- Vertigo
- Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss
- Unilateral tinnitus
CN5 - Absent corneal reflex
CN7 - Facial palsy
Bilateral in neurofibromatosis 2
Acoustic neuroma investigations
ENT referral
MRI - Cerebellopontine angle
Acoustic neuroma management
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Peripheral neuropathy aetiology
Motor
- GBS
- Infection
Sensory
- Diabetes
- B12 deficiency
- Uraemia
Alcohol
SLE
Thyroid
Chemo/radiotherapy
Peripheral neuropathy investigations
Bloods
- FBC
- E/E
- LFT
- Toxicology
- Cultures - Infection?
- Anti-Ro and anti-La - SLE
- Nerve conduction studies - GBS?
Neurofibromatosis causes
- AD - Chromosome 17
2. AD - Chromosome 20
Neurofibromatosis 1 presentation
SKIN LESIONS
Cafe au lait spots Axillary freckles Optic lesions Scoliosis Pheochromocytoma
Neurofibromatosis 2 presentation
TUMOURS
Bilateral acoustic neuromas
Ependymomas
Schwannomas
Meningioma