Neuropathology 1

Question 1

Name the common origins of tumours of the brain

Answer 1

• most common are metastatic
  Breast
  Melanoma
  Lung (small cell undifferentiated, squamous, adenoma)

Question 2

What are the effects that tumours can have on the brain?

Answer 2

• can have no effect
• SOL (can cause fits, drowsiness, visual disturbance and behavioural changes)
• haemorrhage

Question 3

Describe the important features of meningiomas

Answer 3

Causes:

• sporadic
• post-irradiation
• part of NF2

Usually occurs at arachnoid sites
Slow growing and well demarcated
Non-invasive but errosive and compressive 
Causes fits, drowsiness and headaches
Surgically removed

Question 4

Describe the important features of gliomas

Answer 4

• tumour of glial cells
• aggressive and invasive
• grading required for prognosis and treatment
• PNET and medullablastoma more prevalent in children

Question 5

Describe the grading of gliomas

Answer 5

I: localised
II: diffuse
III: anaplastic astrocytoma
IV: gliobastoma multiforme

Question 6

Describe common peripheral nerve tumours

Answer 6

• younger people more affected
• Schwannoma (in myelinated neurons)
• neurofibroma (in unmyelinated neurons)

Question 7

Describe NF1 and NF2

Answer 7

NF1:

• autosomal dominant
• 50% spontaneous
• clinical sign: cafe au lait spots and tumours on/under the skin

NF2:

• tumours along vestibulocochlear nerves (so hearing and balance affected)
• defect in merlin protein (tumour suppressing function)