Retrocochlear and the CANS Pathway Flashcards
What are retrocochlear disorders?
Disorders that affect the auditory nerve and its connections to the central auditory nervous system
What are neoplasms?
New growth
Abnormal growth of mass tissue
Disorder of the cell cycle
What is the growth of neoplasms like?
Uncoordinated and exceeds that of normal tissue
Grows in an excessive manner
Competes with normal cells/tissue for energy and nutrition
Grows at the host’s expense
Do neoplasms have purpose?
No
They are purposeless, prey on the host, and are almost autonomous
What are intracranial neoplasms?
Brain tumors
What are some types of intracranial neoplasms?
Benign and malignant tumors
Mass lesions (such as cysts) of the brain parenchyma (functional tissue of an organ)
Tumors in the meninges
Tumors from structures near the brain tissue (pituitary gland and pineal gland tumors) or other sites in the body that affect brain tissue and function
What is the incidence of intracranial neoplasms?
4 to 12 per 100,000
What cells do 45% of intracranial neoplasms arise from?
Neuroglial cells
What are neuroglial cells?
Non-excitable support cells of the CNS (not neurons which as excitable)
Smaller than neurons, lack axons, and do not synapse with other cells
Outnumber neurons
Make up 1/2 the volume of the CNS
What are the 4 main types of neuroglial cells?
Astrocytes
Oligodendrocytes
Microglia
Ependymal cells
What are astrocytes?
Star-shaped
Support nerve cells and function as electrical insulators
Provide a barrier at synapses
Play a role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier
What are oligodendrocytes?
Active in the formation of myelin sheaths for central nerve fibers
What are microglia?
Small glial cells
Activated in the presence of inflammation and degenerative processes with the CNS
Phagocytic function (ingest and remove neural residue)
What are ependymal cells?
Epithelial cells that line the CSF filled brain cavities and spinal cord
Some are ciliated and facilitate CSF circulation
Involved in the production of CSF
What are some characteristics of benign neoplasms?
Typically slow growing
Well-defined borders (surgery effective treatment)
Does not spread to other areas of the body
Generally not life-threatening
When will a benign neoplasm kill?
When it is locally destructive or it is located in areas of the brain that control vital functions
What are some characteristics of malignant neoplasms?
Cell structure significantly different than normal brain cells
Grow faster and cause invasion and destruction
Life-threatening
Can spread throughout the body
Even though malignant tumors can spread throughout the body, is it rare for a primary brain tumor to spread beyond the brain or spine?
Yes
Is the distinction between benign and malignant brain tumors always clear cut?
No
A large benign tumor may lead to serious medical problems and even death
A small malignant tumor may escape detection for a while if they are in an area where they can grow
What are intra-axial or intrinsic tumors?
Tumors originating within the brain tissue
What are some examples of intra-axial tumors?
Astrocytoma, glioblastoma, and cerebral metastases
What are extra-axial tumors or extrinsic tumors?
Originate from tissue that is neither neuronal or glial
What are some of the originating sites of extra-axial tumors?
All tissue that encase or support the brain substance, including the meninges
Pineal and pituitary glands
Cranial nerve sheaths
Cerebral metastases
What are the most common extra-axial tumors?
Meningiomas
What are cerebral metastases?
What is the temporal bone positioned between?
The middle and the posterior cranial fossa
What are the 4 segments of the temporal bone?
Petrous (hardest part and houses inner ear)
Squamous
Mastoid
Tympanic (poorly developed at birth and matures by 3 years, forms most of the EAC)
Are most vascular tumors of the temporal bone benign?
Yes
What are the 2 categories of vascular tumors?
Hemangiomas
Vascular malformations
What are hemangiomas?
Typically present during first month of life (resulting from malformation of angioblastic fetal tissue)
Initial rapid growth followed by a slow period of shrinkage
Should cavernous hemangiomas be classified as a vascular malformation?
Maybe
REVIEW
What are vascular malformations?
More common than hemangiomas, but still rare
Always present at birth (but may not be visible)
Grow in proportion with the body growth and do not regress
Can grow to a large size
Where do the majority of vascular malformations present?
In the IAC or geniculate ganglion of the VII N in the facial canal (extensive blood supply here)
They may arise in the ME cavity or EAC, but rarely
Is there a difference in cell structure between vascular malformations and hemangiomas?
Yes
But clinically, there is still confusion in their diagnosis
What are some signs and symptoms for both vascular malformations and hemangiomaa?
Present with symptoms around the 3rd decade of life
VIIth N dysfunction (when the geniculate ganglion is the site of origin)
Hemifacial spasm
Tinnitus
CHL (eroding into ME)
Progressive SNHL (common with IAC site)
Vertigo
How are vascular malformations and hemangiomas diagnosed?
Case Hx
CT scan
MRI with contrast (lesions appear hyper-intense on T2 (fluid bright) because vascular is fluid)
Geniculate lesions may be difficult to visualize with MRI (can be done with CT)
What is the differential diagnosis for vascular malformations and hemangiomas?
Other temporal bone tumors
Meningioma (irregular margins)
VIIth N schwannoma (less localized and causes facial nerve symptoms)
Cholesteatoma (vascular lesion in ME cavity and can invade other structures)
What is the treatment for vascular malformations and hemangiomas?
Surgical removal with low likelihood of recurrence
What is a schwannoma?
A benign tumor that comes from the schwann cells
Most common tumor of the temporal bone and CPA