Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

B&B Exam 2 > Pathology > Flashcards

Pathology Flashcards

1
Q

Immunologic destruction of normal myelin

Etiology unknown
Hereditary – HLA types A3, B7, Dw2, DRw2, DRw4, DRw6; common in Nordic Caucasians
Viruses – abnormal immune response to measles virus, retroviral (HTLV-1) demyelination

Epidemiology
Most common 20-40 years
Females > males

Gross pathology
Plaques at multiple CNS sites-Around lateral ventricles, optic nerves/chiasm/tracts, corpus callosum, cerebellar peduncles, cerebellum, spinal cord

Microscopic pathology
Loss of myelin (seen on LFB stain) with relative preservation of axons (silver or Bielschowsky stain)
Plaques centered around or extend along blood vessels (venules) with perivascular lymphocytes and plasma cells
Lipid laden macrophages filled with myelin fragments and breakdown products
Reactive astrocytosis

Clinical presentation
Multiple episodes of relapse and remission
Multiple CNS sites effected (visual, motor, sensory, cerebellar, brainstem related symptoms)
Stresses precipitate exacerbations

MRI is the most sensitive technique for lesion detection
Demyelinating foci are hyperintense on T2 weighted image

Natural history
Long course of alternating relapses and remission with increasing functional limitations
Eventual death from intercurrent infection, respiratory compromise, pulmonary embolus
Acute form with involvement of vital brainstem centers is fatal at first presentation

A

multiple sclerosis (MS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Acute fulminating immunologic destruction of myelin days/weeks after immune challenge

Often follows respiratory infection
Vaccination (rabies, smallpox)
Infection (measles, rubella, mumps, influenza, pertussis, strep) - precipitating infection is cleared before onset

Most common in children and adolescents
Monophasic but may relapse
Acute onset with hemiplegia, ataxia, optic neuritis and sometimes seizures

Demyelinating lesions centered around venules with perivascular chronic inflammation and macrophages

Multifocal (asymmetric) MRI hyperintense foci within white matter

Most cases are non-fatal with rapid recovery but a small subset can have residual neurologic deficit or die in acute phase

A

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Defective enzyme in metabolic pathway related to neurolipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleic acids, pigments, or metals

Non-catabolized metabolite accumulates and destroys neurons and/or glia

Rare diseases of infancy and childhood

Motor disturbances, seizures, deafness, blindness, retardation

Insidious onset, relentlessly progressive

A

Primary Encephalopathies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Primary leukodystrophy

Diffuse bilaterally symmetric white matter degeneration

A

Canavan Disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

CNS metabolism perturbed by extra-CNS disease

Metabolic substrate deprivation (oxygen, glucose)
Metabolic cofactor deficiency (vitamins, hormones)
Major organ failure (heart, lungs, kidney, liver)
Chemical imbalances (fluid, electrolytes, acid-base, calcium, osmolality)
Intoxications (drugs, poisons, hormones)
Miscellaneous (sepsis, temperature extremes, trauma)

Seen in any age group
Acute/subacute onset
Amenable to treatment

A

Secondary Encephalopathies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Clinical expression of cerebral thrombosis, embolism, or hemorrhage

Event lasts less than 24 hours

A

Transient Ischemic Attach (TIA)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Vascular event in CNS with sudden onset and effects lasting more than 24 hours

Fifth most common cause of death in the US, incidence and prevalence is declining

Major risk factors: Hypertension, Cardiac disease, Cigarette smoking, Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes mellitus

Other risk factors: Oral contraceptives, Hematologic disease, Thrombotic coagulopathies, Vasculitis, Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Dissecting aneurysm in extracranial blood vessel, Cocaine, heroin, amphetamines

A

Stroke

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Normal blood flow but reduced O2 content
Low environmental partial pressure of oxygen
Acute respiratory failure
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Most hypoxic conditions depress cardiac output leading to cerebral ischemia

A

Hypoxia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

O2 content of blood is normal but blood flow is reduced
Cardiac arrest
Hypovolemic shock
More damaging than hypoxia, toxic metabolic wastes accumulate

A

Ischemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Characteristic of thrombotic infarcts

No reperfusion to necrotic area

A

Anemic cerebral infarct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Characteristic of embolic infarcts

Reperfusion of necrotic area leads to extravasation of blood from necrotic vessels

A

Hemorrhagic cerebral infarct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

0-2 days after infarct
subtle tissue softening, dusky grey matter discoloration, blurring of grey/white matter demarcation
red neurons – neuronal cytoplasm shrinks and turns pink, nucleus collapses and breaks up
neutrophils migrate from vessels at infarct edge

A

Acute infarct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

2-4 days after infarct
findings of acute stage are more pronounced
swelling (edema) of tissue within mass effect
red neurons break up (liquefactive necrosis) and disappear
neutrophils are replaced by lymphocytes and macrophages

A

Subacute infarct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

4+ days after infarct
early liquefactive necrosis and late cystic cavitation (no fibrous scar formation)
cavity replaces liquefied dead tissue, spanned by reactive astrocytic processes and capillaries
reactive gliosis and partial tissue damage in surrounding non-necrotic parenchyma with neuronal encrustation (iron/calcium salt deposits on neurons in infarct rim)

A

Chronic infarct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

chronic hypertension results in hyaline arteriolosclerosis and lipohyalinosis in deep perforating central branches
vessel walls become thicker but less elastic, lumen narrows and microaneurysms may develop
thrombosis leads to lacunar infarcts, small cavities in the brain located in the basal ganglia, thalamus, pons, or deep cerebellum
vessel rupture leads to intracerebral hemorrhage

A

hypertensive hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

thrombosis of dural venous sinus or cortical vein usually due to infection, tumor invasion, or thrombotic diathesis
blocked venous drainage leads to congestion, ischemia, hemorrhagic necrosis in drainage territory

A

cerebral venous thrombosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

trauma
skull fracture lacerates underlying dural artery (most often the middle meningeal)
blood under arterial pressure accumulates in potential space between skull and dura
hematoma mass effect may cause herniation
patient may experience lucid interval between injury and neurologic deterioration
medical emergency requiring prompt evacuation

A

epidural hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

trauma
tear in bridging vein between cortical surfaces and dural sinus
cortical vein attached to brain
bridging vein tethered in dura
inertial movement of brain relative to skull/dura shears bridging vein

venous blood accumulates between dura and arachnoid

organized by dural fibroblasts that form membranes around the hematoma

granulation tissue capillaries of organizing hematoma may rupture with minor trauma (re-bleed)

A

subdural hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

trauma, saccular aneurysm, AVM rupture, spread of intraventricular or intracerebral hemorrhage
parenchymal contusion or lacerations bleeding through disrupted pia or ependyma
basilar blood vessels ruptured by basilar skull fracture
dissecting aneurysm of vertebral arteries

A

subarachnoid hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Associated with connective tissue disease, cerebral vascular malformations, aortic coarctation, AD PCKD, neurofibromatosis 1, smoking, HTN, turbulent blood flow

most common in the anterior circle of Willis

rupture occurs at the dome and extravasated blood collects in the subarachnoid space, brain parenchyma and ventricular system

rupture can result in severe headache, loss of consciousness and death

rupture might result in circle of Willis vasospasm resulting in infarct or arachnoid fibrosis which causes communicating hydrocephalus

A

saccular (berry) aneurysms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

trauma, chronic hypertension, hemorrhagic infarct, cerebral amyloid angiopathy
results from contusions and lacerations

A

intracerebral/parenchymal hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

extension of intracerebral hemorrhage that ruptures ventricular lining

A

intraventricular hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

amyloid deposited in small and medium-sized cortical and leptomeningeal vessels resulting in thickened but weakened vessels that are subject to rupture (see apple green birefringence on congo red stain)
cerebral hemorrhage is more superficial
reflects involvement of leptomeningeal and superficial cortical vessels, may see several hemorrhages of different ages in different brain areas
affected vessels have double-barrel appearance

A

cerebral amyloid angiopathy and intracerebral hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

malformation of cerebral blood vessels
intracerebral +/- subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizure disorder
most often involves MCA
tortuous large caliber vascular tangle in parenchyma +/- subarachnoid space
rapid flow rates
direct AV shunt with no capillary bed, involves arterioles, veins and arteriolized veins
brain tissue is seen between abnormal vessels
reactive changes are seen in the surrounding brain (hemosiderin, Ca2+, gliosis)

A

arteriovenous malformation (AVM)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

malformation of cerebral blood vessels
intracerebral with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizure disorder
occurs most often in the brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebral subcortical white matter
grossly resembles hematoma
sluggish flow rates
abnormal vessels with thin fibrous wall, without intervening brain tissue
no smooth muscle, elastic

A

cavernous hemangioma (cavernoma)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

loss of memory and other cognitive abilities secondary to cerebrovascular disease

multi-infarct dementia
bilateral infarcts destroying threshold volume of grey matter or functionally critical grey matter (thalamus, hippocampus)

diffuse white matter disease
arteriolosclerosis leads to myelin damage, axonal loss, disconnection of association areas
subcortical arteriolosclerosis leukoencephalopathy

associated with chronic HTN, diabetes, cerebral atherosclerosis

A

vascular dementia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

parenchymal bruise from impact of brain with skull

head is struck, brain develops inertia relative to the skull resulting in impact between brain and skull, brain may rebound against inner skull opposite to the impact site

A

contusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

parenchymal contusion at impact site

associated with blows to stationary head and falls

tissue and vascular damage with hemorrhage

impact greatest on crowns of gyri

follows organization sequence of intracerebral hemorrhage

A

coup injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

parenchymal contusion opposite to the impact site due to rebound injury

associated with falls

tissue and vascular damage with hemorrhage

impact greatest on crowns of gyri

follows organization sequence of intracerebral hemorrhage

A

countercoup injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

stretching and shearing of axons in deep white matter (corpus callosum, periventricular white matter, brainstem)

may be seen with open or closed head injury

patients are unconscious from the moment of injury without a lucid interval (remain unconscious, vegetative, or disabled until death)

axons severed at nodes of Ranvier, axoplasmic flow disrupted, rounded axonal swellings

small hemorrhages in the corpus callosum, dorsal midbrain, dorsal pons with or without contusions or lacerations

rounded swellings in white matter neuropil on microscopy, no axons on Bielschowsky stain

A

diffuse axonal injury (DAI)

31
Q

Occurs in malnourished patients, especially alcoholics
Wernicke’e encephalopathy/Korsakoff’s syndrome
Bilateral hemorrhage and necrosis in mammillary bodies and periventricular grey matter
Peripheral neuropathy
Heart failure

A

Thiamine (B1) Deficiency

32
Q

Occurs in malnourished and pernicious anemia patients
Interferes with hematopoiesis and CNS myelin production leading to megaloblastic anemia and myelin destruction in posterior and lateral columns of spinal cord (subacute combined degeneration)

A

Cobalamin (B12) Deficiency

33
Q

Elevated ammonia levels

Toxic to CNS metabolism
Neuronal membrane depolarization and neuronal hyperexcitability
Perturbed neurotransmitter metabolism and imbalance among neurotransmitters

Alzheimer type 2 astrocyte
Grey matter astrocytes with swollen clear nuclei and no visible cytoplasm

A

Hepatic Encephalopathy

34
Q

Cerebral cortical necrosis (layers 3 and 5 or cortex)

Neuronal necrosis in hippocampus (CA1 region), Purkinje cells of cerebellum

Necrosis in watershed zones of major vascular territories

A

hypoxia/hypoglycemia

35
Q

Patient with abnormal serum Na+ corrected too rapidly (alcoholics, chronically ill)

Diamond-shaped area of myelin destruction in central pons

A

Central pontine myelinolysis

36
Q

non-infectious inflammation due to chemical irritation in the subarachnoid space

keratin from ruptured intracranial epidermoid cyst (misplaced squamous epithelium trapped inside developing skull during fetal development) can cause inflammation

A

chemical meningitis

37
Q

spread of metastatic cancer/lymphoma in the subarachnoid space

meningeal lymphomatosis

A

carcinomatous/lymphomatous meningitis

38
Q

leptomeninges infected by bacteria that induce pus formation

neonates: GBS, Gram negatives, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus
children: S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae type B (if not immunized), N. meningitidis
adults: S. pneumoniae (all ages, sporadic), N. menigitidis (young adults, crowded living conditions), Gram negative rods, L. monocytogenes, S. aureua

fever, chills, anorexia, vomiting
headache, photophobia, irritability, decreased level of consciousness, stiff neck
septicemia Waterhouse-Friedrichsen syndrome (adrenal septic hemorrhagic necrosis, skin petechiae, systemic collapse)
neurologic impairment at presentation

CSF findings
Increased opening pressure
Increase CSF cells (mostly PMNs)
Increase CSF protein
Decrease CSF glucose

Pus accumulates in the subarachnoid space (obscures view of underlying brain surface)
Pus may collect at the base of the brain
Subarachnoid space filled with PMNs
May see inflammation +/- thrombosis of blood vessels passing through subarachnoid space

A

acute pyogenic meningitis

39
Q

Meningitis caused by viral infection
No organism found on Gram stain of culture of CSF

Enteroviruses – poliovirus, echovirus, coxsackievirus; HIVl HSV, mumps, measles

Less fulminant presentation than acute pyogenic meningitis
Spontaneous remission

CSF findings
Normal or increased opening pressure
Increased cells (lymphocytes)
Increased protein
Normal glucose
Negative microscopy
A

acute aseptic meningitis

40
Q

Localized pus-forming infection of brain parenchyma

Multiple sources of infection
Hematogenous (cardiac, pulmonary)
Local extension (oro-sino-naso-facial)

Immunocompetent patient: staph and strep species
Immunocompromised patient: Toxoplasma gondii, Nocardia asteroids, L. monocytogenes, gram negative bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi

Clinical presentation
Variable: indolent to fulminant
Fever, headache, focal neurologic deficit, seizures

CSF findings – lumbar puncture rarely indicated and contraindicated with increased ICP
Increased opening pressure
Increased cells (PMNs and lymphocytes)
Increased protein
Normal glucose
Negative cultures

Diagnosed by imaging and biopsy cultures
Potentially fatal without treatment (surgery and antibiotics)

Complications
Rupture into ventricle or subarachnoid space
Dural venous sinus thrombosis

Early cerebritis (1-3 weeks) – hyperemic softened focus
Developed purulent abscess – suppurative cavity with fibrous capsule and surrounding edema; often at grey-white junction

Central core of suppurative liquefactive necrosis
Intermediate zone of proliferating granulation tissue
Outer ring of gliotic edematous brain

A

brain abscess

41
Q

Pus-forming infection between inner dural surface and arachnoid
Spread of skull or sinus infection
Organized fibroblast from dura
Thrombophlebitis of dural venous sinus or bridging veins with cerebral venous thrombosis

A

subdural emypema

42
Q

Pus forming infection between bone and outer dural surface
Spread from osteomyelitis or sinusitis
Spinal infection may compress cord and require emergency decompression/drainage

A

epidural abscess

43
Q

Chronic granulomatous meningitis = basilar infection resulting in adhesive arachnoiditis (fibrosis) that traps basilar vessels and cranial nerves

Tuberculoma = brain abscess with caseous necrosis surrounded by granulomatous inflammation

Tuberculous spondylitis/Pott’s disease = vertebral destruction, spinal deformity, epidural abscess

Immunocompetent: M. tuberculosis
Immunocompromised: M. avium-intracellulare

CSF findings 
Increased cells (lymphocytes)
Increased protein
Normal or slightly decreased glucose
AFB positive
A

CNS Mycobacterium infection

44
Q

Treponema pallidum may spread to meninges

Early CNS infection is limited to meninges
Asymptomatic: normal to increased cells (lymphocytes), protein, normal glucose, + CSF VLDR
Symptomatic: presents as acute aseptic meningitis

Late CNS infection:
Involvement may be limited to meninges and arteries (mesoderm) - Meningeal gummas, Fibrosing vascular infection occluding lumens (obliterative endarteritis) with plasma cells resulting in parenchymal infarcts
Involvement may include meninges, arteries, and parenchyma - Neuronal loss, microglial activation (rod cells), gliosis, Progressive mental deterioration resulting in dementia, Tabes dorsalis = degeneration of spinal dorsal columns (ataxia, loss of pain sensation)

Gumma
Granulomatous tissue reaction
Necrosis with preservation of tissue reticulin
Prominent plasma cells
Occurs in meninges and may extend into the brain cortex
May occur in brain parenchyma in late disease

A

Neurosyphilis

45
Q

CNS infection by spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by Ixodes ticks

Part of a multisystem disorder involving skin, cardiovascular, joint, PNS, and CNS systems

Aseptic meningitis, CN VII palsy, peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy

Microglial activation (rod cells), granulomas, vasculitis

A

Neuroborreliosis

46
Q

Viral infection of meninges and brain parenchyma

Perivascular and parenchymal mononuclear cell infiltrates
Perivascular lymphocytic cuffing

Microglial nodules (lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, rod cells)
Microglial cell activation
Microglia nuclei enlarge, long, and thin (rod cells)

Neuronal death and phagocytosis, often in a microglial nodule (neuronophagia)

Gliosis
Viral inclusions may be present

May be followed by demyelinating syndrome (ADEM)

A

viral meningoencephalitis

47
Q

Sporadic viral encephalitis
Primary infection (lips, face) or reactivation from trigeminal ganglion
Targets medial temporal lobe, limbic regions
Causes necrotizing, hemorrhagic infection
Intranuclear viral inclusions in neurons and glia

A

CNS HSV1 infection

48
Q

Adults
Retrograde spread to CNS from sacral dorsal root ganglia, latency established after genital infection
Aseptic meningitis in healthy adults
Necrotizing encephalitis in the immunocompromised

Neonates
Acquired during birth or transplacentally
Necrotizing encephalitis

A

CNS HSV2 infection

49
Q

Childhood viral exanthema

Varicella latency established in DRG and trigeminal ganglia, reactivation with anterograde axonal transport to skin in dermatomal distribution

Herpes zoster by primary infection or reactivation may travel retrograde to spinal cord/brain especially in the immunosuppressed

Myeloradiculitis, encephalitis, CNS vascular infection

Intranuclear inclusions in neurons and glia

A

CNS Varicella Zoster Virus infection

50
Q

Intrauterine infection

Targets periventricular regions with severe necrosis leading to periventricular calcification, microcephaly, and CNS malformations

Infection in immunosuppressed leads to encephalitis, retinitis, myeloradiculitis

Cellular enlargement with prominent intranuclear inclusions in neurons, glia, endothelial cells

A

CNS Cytomeglovirus infection

51
Q

Epidemic viral encephalitis
Viruses endemic in birds and small mammals, transmitted by arthropods (mosquitoes, ticks)
Mostly seen in summer and early fall
Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus

A

CNS Arbovirus infection

52
Q

Enterovirus that infects gut and spreads to blood
Some strains can invade CNS from blood and produce aseptic meningitis +/- acute myelitis
In myelitis, virus targets motor neurons in anterior horn of spinal cord and brainstem resulting in flaccid areflexic paralysis and respiratory muscle involvement which may be fatal
Vaccination has reduced worldwide incidence

A

CNS poliovirus infection

53
Q

Virus endemic in small mammals
Virus transmitted to humans via bite of infected animal, travels retrograde via PNS axons to CNS (time to onset of disease reflects bite distance from CNS)
Fulminant encephalitis: neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions that are round and pink and are seen best in Purkinje cells and hippocampal pyramidal neurons

A

CNS Rabies infection

54
Q

Rare complication of early age measles infection
Non-productive (no viral replication) CNS latency of altered measles virus after primary infection
Onset of progressive behavior, cognitive, and motor disturbances months to years after infection
Encephalitis with widespread neuronal and white matter destruction
Intranuclear inclusion in neurons and oligodendrocytes

A

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)

55
Q

Reactivation during a period of immunocompromised of latent JC polyomavirus infection acquired earlier in life

Primary JC virus infection is asymptomatic, latency in lymphocytes and kidney
JC virus infects glia on reactivation

Oligodendrocyte involvement leads to myelin loss
Astrocyte involvement leads to enlarged bizarre astrocyte nuclei

Progressive neurologic syndrome due to CNS white matter destruction

Multiple foci of secondary demyelination in cerebral, cerebellar, brainstem white matter
Viral intranuclear inclusion in oligodendrocyte nuclei

A

progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)

56
Q

Early/with seroconversion: aseptic meningitis

Late: subacute meningoencephalitis

Direct HIV infection of cerebral microglia and macrophages
Neurons destroyed by cytokines, BBB failure

Clinical dementia, motor disturbances, seizures
More common in pediatric patients
Secondary infectious and malignant CNS complications

A

CNS HIV infection

57
Q

Target host endothelium, reproduce in host cells

Spread by insect vectors (ticks, lice, mites)

Infect CNS vascular endothelium resulting in vasculitis, hemorrhage, thrombosis, infarction

A

CNS Rickettsial infection

58
Q

Infection of meninges +/- parenchyma associated with immunocompromised

Causative agents: candida albicans, aspergillus fumigatus, mucor, Cryptococcus neoformans

Inflammatory response may be granulomatous or minimal depending on host status and infecting agent

A

fungal meningoencephalitis

59
Q

Meningocerebral infection by Toxoplasma gondii

Cat is the definitive host, humans infected via contaminated oocyst containing cat feces
Cysts ingested, tachyzoites infect GI macrophages and are disseminated via blood and lymph

Intrauterine/neonatal
Transplacental passage of tachyzoites during primary maternal infection
Fetal meningoencephalitis
targets subpial and subventricular regions
widespread grey and white matter destruction
diffuse brain calcification, hydrocephalus, CNS malformations

primary/reactivation in immunocompromised
ring enhancing cerebral abscess(es) at grey/white cortical function or deep grey matter
meningitis, vasculitis, retinitis
free tachyzoites and encysted bradyzoites on microscopy

A

CNS Toxoplasmosis

60
Q

Larvae of Tenia solium encyst in human CNS following ingestion of eggs in undercooked pork
Humans are dead end intermediate hosts

A

Neurocysticercosis

61
Q

Neuronal protein PrPc converted from alpha helix to beta pleated sheet PrPsc

PrPsc is resistant to cellular degradation mechanisms and normal techniques of sterilization and tissue fixation

Aberrant PrPsc may arise spontaneously, be inherited, or introduced via surgery, ingestion, or organ transplantation

Sporadic prion disease
Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
Rapidly progressive dementia with myoclonic jerks
Fatal in less than 1 year
Widespread neuronal loss, gliosis, spongiform change in grey matter (no inflammatory reponse)

Heritable prion disease
Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome
Fatal familial insomnia

Infectious prion disease
Kuru – transmission via cannibalism

A

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

62
Q

Autosomal dominant disorder resulting from CAG repeat on chromosome 4 huntintin gene

Loss of neurons in caudate, putamen, thalamus, and cerebral cortex

Extrapyramidal movement disorder +/- dementia

A

Huntington’s Chorea

63
Q

Autosomal recessive disorder resulting from GAA repeat on chromosome 9 frataxin gene

Loss of axons/neurons in spinal cord, cerebellum (spinocerebellar degeneration)

Gait ataxia, cerebellar/posterior column/pyramidal tract signs and symptoms

A

Friedreich’s ataxia

64
Q

Autosomal dominant, segmental repeat in PMP 22 gene for myelin structural protein, chromosome 17

Myelin damage and axonal loss in peripheral nerves

Distal leg weakness and muscle atrophy +/- sensory loss

A

Peroneal muscular atrophy/hereditary and sensory neuropathy type 1/Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

65
Q

X-linked recessive deletion in dystrophin gene

Slowly progressive wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscle

Progressive loss of muscle function, immobility, respiratory paralysis

A

Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy

66
Q

Most common dementia

Widespread neuronal loss and gliosis
Cerebral cortex, brainstem, basal ganglia
Decrease in brain weight and volume
Increase in ventricular volume (hydrocephalus ex vacuo)

Senile/neuritic plaques
Extracellular, amyloid core, neurites with abnormal cytoskeletal filaments (tau protein)

Neurofibrillary tangles
Intraneuronal, altered cytoskeletal elements (tau protein)

Granulovacuolar degeneration
Lysosomes with altered cytoskeletal proteins (tau)

Hirano bodies
Abnormal cytoskeletal microfilaments (actin)

Amyloid angiopathy
Deposition of amyloid in blood vessels of leptomeninges, cerebral cortex

Neuronal loss leads to decreased neurotransmitters
Decreased ACh in cerebral cortex and nucleus basalic of Maynert
NE, DA, somatostatin, 5-hydroxytriptamine, substance P may decrease

Genetic predisposition
Chromosomes 21, 14, 1, 19 implicated
Early onset in Down’s syndrome (trisomy 21)

A

Alzheimer’s Disease

67
Q

Dementing illness clinically similar to Alzheimer’s but involving mostly frontal lobe related symptoms

Marked atrophy of the frontal lobe and anterior portion of the superior temporal gyrus

Microscopic round silver-positive neuronal inclusions (pick bodies)

A

Pick’s disease

68
Q

Cumulative consequence of many small strokes (multi-infarct dementia)

Diffuse damage to CNS white matter from arteriolar disease (hypertension) – Binswanger encephalopathy

A

Vascular Dementia

69
Q

Intermittent increases in CSF pressure enlarge ventricles

Dementia, gait ataxia, urinary incontinence

A

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

70
Q

Extrapyramidal movement disorder due to loss of pigmented neurons in substantia nigra

Bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, resting tremor

Pallor of substantia nigra and locus ceruleus

Round pink target-like inclusions (Lewy bodies) in surviving neurons of the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus

A

Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

71
Q

Primary motor neuron disease

Idiopathic fetal and infantile degeneration of lower motor neurons (spinal cord, cranial nerve nuclei) without corticospinal tract signs
SMA type 1 (Werdig-Hoffman disease) – fatal cause of neonatal hypotonia, autosomal recessive disease (chromosome 5)

Loss of motor neurons in anterior horn of spinal cord
Atrophy of anterior spinal nerve roots and skeletal muscle

A

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

72
Q

Primary motor neuron disease
Loss of motor neurons and astrocytes in spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex
Upper and lower motor neuron signs
Degeneration of corticospinal tract

A

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

73
Q

Secondary motor neuron disease
Lytic infection of the motor neurons caused by enterovirus
Can be confined to spinal cord but may also affect the brain
In chronic case, asymmetric loss of anterior horn motor neurons and muscle atrophy
Lower extremities are involved more often than trunk or upper extremities

A

Poliomyelitis motor neuron disease

B&B Exam 2 (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions