Raised ICP + Brain Tumours Flashcards
1
Q
how do brain tumours manifest?
A
- focal neurological signs
- symptoms of raised ICP
2
Q
Symptoms of raised ICP?
A
- headache
- constant
- nocturnal
- worse on waking
- worse on coughing, sneezing, bending forward
- vomiting
Other features:
- papilloedema
- altered mental state
- seizures
- 5th and 6th cranial nerve palsies
- unilateral ptosis
- visual field defects
3
Q
What is cushings triad of raised ICP?
A
opposite to shock:
- high BP
- low RR
- low pulse
4
Q
pathology of papilloedema
A
papilloedema= swelling of the optic disc due to raised ICP
Optic nerve sheath is connected to subarachnoid space. If there is high pressure in the CSF, this can flow into the optic nerve sheath, causing increased pressure around the optic nerve. This causes the optic disc to swell.
5
Q
signs of papilloedema on fundoscopy?
A
- blurred optic disc margin
- raised optic disc
- engorged retinal veins
- loss of venous pulsation
- multiple haemorrhages around optic disc
- paton’s lines
- creases in retina around optic disc
6
Q
main cancers to metastasise to brain?
A
- breast
- lung
- colorectal
- prostate
7
Q
main types of brain tumour?
A
- gliomas
- meningiomas
- pituitary tumours
- acoustic neuroma
8
Q
describe gliomas
A
- tumours that arise in glial cells
- graded 1 -4
- 1= most benign
- 4=most malignant
- most common types:
- astrocytoma (glioblastoma multiforme most common)
- oligodendroglioma
- ependyoma
9
Q
describe meningiomas
A
- arise from arachnoid cells in meninges
- benign & slow growing
- they increase in size & take up space therefore their symptoms are due to this
10
Q
describe acoustic neuromas
A
aka vestibular schwannomas
- arise from schwann cells of Cr.N 8
- slow growing
- tend to be unilateral
- bilateral = associated with neurofibromatosis type 2
- presentation:
- hearing loss
- tinnitus
- balance problems
- facial nerve palsy
