SANS CNS Questions review Flashcards
Branches of the meningohypophyseal trunk
Inferior hypophyseal arteries
Dorsal meningeal artery
Medial tentorial artery of Bernasconi-Cassinari
Loss of heterozygosity 1p/19q is characteristic of
Oligodendroglioma
WHO grade 2
Most commonly seen genetic mutation in gemistocytic and fibrillary astrocytomas an mixed oligoastrocytomas
TP53 mutations
Loss of heterozygosity of 10q is most frequently seen in
Primary and secondary GBM Other frequent genetic abnormalities: -EGFR amplification -p16(INK4a) deletion -PTEN mutations -TP53 mutations (more common with secondary GBM)
Primary treatment for posterior fossa JPA
Gross total resection
Primary treatment for suprasellar JPA
Chemo and/or radiation
(Chemo: carboplatinum and vincristine)
Suprasellar JPAs cannot be excised due to resulting visual, hypothalamic, and endocrine morbidity
Pineal mass
Elevated alpha-fetoproteins
Three most likely dx?
Endodermal sinus tumor
Embryonal carcinoma
Immature teratoma
Pineal mass
Elevated beta-hCG
Two most likely dx?
Choriocarcinoma
Mixed germ cell tumors
Best treatment for germinoma?
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
- Pure germinomas are commonly highly radiosensitive
- Often treated without surgical rsxn
4wk old presents s/p seizure. CTH demonstrates calcified subependymal nodules and physical exam demonstrated hypopigmented macules. Dx? Next step?
Tuberous sclerosis
-Echocardiography to screen for rhabdomyomas
Epilepsy beginning in infancy as infantile spasms is a common presentation of TS
- Autosomal dominant
- Facial angiofibromata
- Shagreen patches
- Ungual fibromas
- Retinal astrocytomas
- Renal cysts
- Renal angiomyolipomas
- Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis
- Hamartomatous rectal polyps
Tuberous Sclerosis
-Chromosomes 9 and 16
Dynamic T2-weighted MR imaging is performed to distinguish tumefactive demyelination versus glioma. What radiographic feature is most useful in establishing the likely diagnosis?
Demonstration of veins coursing through the lesion
-No angiogenesis exists in TDL
Manifestations (sodium level) of a classic triphasic response following transsphenoidal resection of a large craniopharyngioma are?
1) Hypernatremia
2) Normo or hyponatremia
3) Hypernatremia
1) Initial symptomatic DI s/p surgery (24hrs)
2) Inappropriate vasopressin secretion (4-5 days)
3) DI (up to 2 wks later)
75yo F with a fourth ventricular mass.
Histopathology shows nests of small blue cells amid a pink fibrillary matrix
Dx? MRI characteristics?
Subependymoma
-Iso/hypo intense on T1 and ABSENT contrast enhancement
A 32 year-old male has intractable seizures localized to the left language-dominant supplementary motor area. What neurological deficits will most likely result following surgical resection?
- Temporary mutism
- Contralateral paresis
- Neglect
Transient - resolve within days - weeks s/p surgery
Anomia and finger agnosis are characteristic of which syndrome?
Location of lesion/damage?
Gerstmann’s syndrome
-Dominant parietal damage
Alexia without agraphia
Most likely location of lesion/damage?
Posterior corpus callosum damage
-Disconnection syndrome
Lesion in CPA
- Hypointense on T1
- iso/hyperintense on T2
- Restricted diffusion on DWI
- minimal/no contrast enhancement
Dermoid cyst
-Epidermoid cyst is similar but usually hyperintense on T1 due to cholesterol components
Mitochondrial disorder that causes slowly progressive ptosis and ophthalmoplegia
Kearns-Sayre syndrome
55yo p/w
- Severe HA
- Acute vision loss
- B/L ptosis
- Complete ophthalmoplegia of both eyes
Most likely dx?
Pituitary apoplexy
-Involvement of optic apparatus, possible cavernous sinus involvement (ophthalmoplegia and ptosis)
ETV is performed through which structure?
Tuber cinereum
What do the three standard peaks in a typical MRI spect measure?
- NAA
- Creatine
- Choline
- NAA: Neuronal viability
- Creratine: Internal marker or reference
- Choline: marker of cellular turnover (involved in synthesis of phospholipids)
Other markers:
- Glutamine/glutamate: Astrocyte markers (may be altered in setting of neuronal damage)
- Myoinositol: Astrocyte marker elevated in Alzheimer disease
- Lipids and lactate: elevated in inflammatory processes and necrotic tissue
75yo M is dx with GBM.
-Which genetic abnormality would MOST likely be found in this tumor?
EGFR
Primary GBM account for vast majority of cases in the elderly
-Amplification and overexpression of EGFR gene has been reported in majority of primary GBM
vs. TP53 mutation in secondary GBM
Parkinson’s triangle boundaries in the cavernous sinus (infratrochlear triangle)
- Trochlear nerve
- Ophthalmic division V1 of the trigeminal nerve
The oculomotor nerve is located above
Maxillary division V3 is located below
Prolactin level that determines prolactinomas vs not
Prolactinomas: > 150 ng/ml
<150 ng/ml (unlikely)
Most likely complication after pituitary adenoma radiosurgery?
Anterior pituitary insufficiency
Maximum radiation dose to the optic apparatus
10-12 Gy
Most likely complication after vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery
Hearing loss
47yo who presents with confusion, agitation, fatigue, fever, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, and hypotension s/p rsxn of R frontal met 3 weeks ago. Most likely diagnosis?
Steroid withdrawal syndrome/Addisonian crisis/Adrenal insufficiency
- AMS
- Fevers
- Hyponatremia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hyperkalemia
- Hypotension
Most likely vessel to be injured during a transsphenoidal?
Sphenopalatine artery
- Terminal branch of maxillary artery
- 1-10% chance of injury
Patient presents with new onset of right facial droop and associated with horizontal diplopia. MRI demonstrates a 4th ventricular lesion. Which anatomy structure is affected causing the diplopia?
Abducens nucleus
- At the level of the facial colliculus, where facial fibers loop around the abducens nucleus
- Lesion at the abducens nucleus will result in ipsilateral conjugate gaze palsy
Patient presents with bilaterally preserved abduction without conjugate adduction of the contralateral eye but preserved convergence. What structure is affected?
MLF
Pt presents with rotatory diplopia that is compensated by tilting the head to the right. What structure is affected?
(Left) trochlear nucleus
-Disease at this level (at the midbrain) would result in rotatory diplopia compensated with head tilt away from affected side
Sudden onset ear pain, facial paralysis hearing loss, and vertigo. No mass lesion seen on MRI. Dx?
Zoster Oticus / Ramsay-Hunt syndrome
-MRI may demonstrate a linear enhancement in the IAC with extension into the tympanic segment of the facial nerve
What is the primary oncogenetic function of Merlin?
Tumor suppressor
-Suppressive role of the Ras-Raf-Mek system
Merlin is an NF2 gene transcription product
During awake crani, which tumor location displays a significantly increased risk of intraop seizure?
Frontal
What is the approximate risk of cognitive decline with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) plus whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for the treatment of metastatic disease
50%
Disorder with distinctive EEG pattern of periodic bursts of stereotype slow-wave and sharp-wave complexes that occur in 3 to 15 second intervals
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
-Progressive post measles panencephalitis
Opening the choroidal fissure in the atrium will lead to
Quadrigeminal cistern
What tumor histology is associated with highest risk of cerebral hemorrhage in patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation?
- Glioma (4 fold higher)
- Mets: no significant increase
What clinical factor portends a favorable local control rate after undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery?
Tumor treatment volume
Histopathology:
- Uniformly cellular
- Numerous, ectatic or compressed, thin walled branching vessels with gaping sinusoidal spaces (Staghorn configuration)
Hemangiopericytoma
- Aggressive CNS tumor
- Invade locally and metastasize
- High rate of recurrence
- 20-50% metastasize to lungs, liver, or bone
Post-operative management of GBM
Stupp protocol
- Adjuvant chemotherapy TMZ
- and fractionated radiotherapy ~60Gy
18yo girl presents with progressive HAs. Pt discovered to have SEGA. Best treatment option?
Everolimus
- mTOR inhibitor
- mTOR pathway has ben implicated
Which laboratory measurement is most specific for Cushing’s syndrome?
24hr urinary free cortisol
The addition of which chemotherapeutic agent to radiation therapy has been shown to increase overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendroglioma?
PCV
- Procarbazine
- Lomustine (CCNU)
- Vincristine
Paragangliomas of the jugular foramen derive from what cell type?
Chromaffin cells of neuro-ectodermal origin
- Location: Jugular fossa, tympanic cavity, carotid body, larynx, and aorticopulm arch
- Sporadic, but 25% familial inheritance pattern
- about 3% of cranial base paragangliomas secrete catecholamines
What intracranial lesion is derived from epithelial cells of ectodermal origin from the stomodeum
Rathke’s pouch
What mass lesion do these cell types give rise to?
- Meningoepithelial cells:
- Cerebellar stem cells:
- Germ cells taht migrated aberrantly
- Meningoepithelial cells: Meningioma
- Cerebellar stem cells: Medulloblastoma
- Germ cells that migrated aberrantly: Germinoma
Best management strategy for patient with esthesioneuroblastoma without evidence of metastatic disease?
Surgical rsxn then conformal radiation tx to tumor bed
- plus chemo if evidence of metastases
What extent of surgical resection of low grade gliomas contributes to a survival benefit?
75-100%
During awake crani, which tumor location displays a significantly increased risk of intraop seizure?
Frontal
What is the approximate risk of cognitive decline with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) plus whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for the treatment of metastatic disease
50%
Disorder with distinctive EEG pattern of periodic bursts of stereotype slow-wave and sharp-wave complexes that occur in 3 to 15 second intervals
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
-Progressive post measles panencephalitis
Central American patient p/w new onset seizures. MRI demonstrates multiple rim-enhancing cysts throughout the brain. Most likely dx?
Taenia solium
- Neurocysticercosis
- Southwest US, Central and South America
What tumor histology is associated with highest risk of cerebral hemorrhage in patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation?
- Glioma (4 fold higher)
- Mets: no significant increase
What clinical factor portends a favorable local control rate after undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery?
Tumor treatment volume
Histopathology:
- Uniformly cellular
- Numerous, ectatic or compressed, thin walled branching vessels with gaping sinusoidal spaces (Staghorn configuration)
Hemangiopericytoma
- Aggressive CNS tumor
- Invade locally and metastasize
- High rate of recurrence
- 20-50% metastasize to lungs, liver, or bone
Post-operative management of GBM
Stupp protocol
- Adjuvant chemotherapy TMZ
- and fractionated radiotherapy ~60Gy
18yo girl presents with progressive HAs. Pt discovered to have SEGA. Best treatment option?
Everolimus
- mTOR inhibitor
- mTOR pathway has ben implicated
Which laboratory measurement is most specific for Cushing’s syndrome?
24hr urinary free cortisol
MOA of clopidogrel
Clopidogrel = Plavix
-Inhibits adenosine diphosphate (ADP) chemoreceptor, P2Y
Heparin bolus and activated clotting time in endovascular treatment
- Initial 100u/Kg of heparin bolus
- Maintenance of activated clotting time 2x patient’s baseline
Pretreatment before endovascular stenting
ASA81
Clopidogrel 75mg
-10 days prior to procedure
If emergent:
Load with
-600mg of clopidogrel
-50u/Kg of heparin bolus (following deployment of first coil)
MOA of aminocaproic acid
Inhibitor of plasminogen
- (plasminogen activates plasmin to break down thrombin and activate fibrinolysis)
- ACA is an antifibrinolytic that helps stabilize clotting
67yo M who p/w worsening parasthesias of the ipsilateral face and contralateral extremity. The symptoms are provoked with head turning. Where is the most likely site of vascular compression in this patient?
Dominant vertebral artery
- Bow Hunter syndrome: Vertebrobasilar insufficiency from intermittent compression
- MC dominant vert compression at C1/2 with head rotation
- Secondary to mechanical narrowing, bone spurs, tumors fibrous bands, infection, or trauma
- Symptoms develop when head is turned to the contralateral side
- Usually isolated posterior circulation with absent/hypoplastic PComms
77-year-old man with history of poorly controlled hypertension awakes with bilateral vision loss. Examination reveals no light perception in both eyes, normal pupillary responses without relative afferent defect, no gaze palsy and normal optic discs. He is slightly confused and language is fluent. However, during your examination, he becomes globally aphasic with gaze deviation to the left and tonic stiffening of his left arm for 45 seconds. Most likely Dx?
PRES (Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome)
- Subacute painless b/l vision loss
- HA
- AMS
- Aphasia
- Seizures
Pathophysiology of PRES
-Increased vascular permeability of the posterior circulation
Syndrome:
- Simultanagnosia
- Optic ataxia
- Ocular apraxia
Balint syndrome
- seen in bi-parietal lesions
- Neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s and posterior cortical atrophy)
A 43-year old patient experienced a visual field defect and hemisensory loss after clipping of a PCA aneurysm. What is the most likely site of injury?
Lateral posterior choroidal artery
Posterior choroidal artery infarcts affect
- LGN
- Pulvinar
- Posterior thalamus
- Hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus
Resulting in: VF defects, hemisensory disturbances, psych dysfunctions, abnormal movements, rarely hemiparesis and eye movement disorders
Occlusion of which cerebral artery can cause spastic paraparesis and contralateral sensory loss along with urinary incontinence and gait apraxia?
Recurrent artery of Heubner
- Anteromedial section of the curate neucleus
- Anteroinferior section of interncal capsule
- parts of putamen and septal nuclei
Most common site for hypertensive hemorrhage
Putamen/BG - 50%
Thalamus/pons - 10-15%
Cerebellum - 10%
CHADS VASC score and anticoagulation recs for stroke prevention
CHADS2 score 0 or 1: antiplatelet
CHADS2 score >= 2: Warfarin/AC
Congestive heart failure (1) Hypertension (1) Age 75 or older (1) Diabetes (1) S2 - Prev stroke or TIA (2)
Symptoms of AICA occlusion
Lateral pontine syndrome
- Contralateral hemibody loss of pain and temp (lateral spinothalamic tract)
- Ipsilateral upper and lower facial paralysis (facial nucleus/nerve)
- Ipsilateral facial loss of pain and temp (spinal trigeminal nucleus and tracT)
- Nystagmus
- N/V/Vertigo (vestibular nuclei)
- Ipsilateral hearing loss (cochlear nuclei)
- Ipsilateral limb and gait ataxia (inferior cerebellar peduncle)
- Ipsilateral Horner’s (descending sympathetic tract)
CNIII palsy from aneurysm compression vs diabetic neuropathy.
- Diabetic neuropathy: pupil sparing CNIII palsy
- Aneurysmal compression: affects external fibers first
- Control of ocular muscles via central fibers within nerve (vascular issues/DM)
- Miosis controlled by parasympathetic fibers via external fibers (affected by compression)
Most common aneurysm to cause CNIII palsy
Pcomm anerurysm
Most common location of cranial dAVF
Transverse sinus (63%) -at Trans-sig junction
What is the most significant risk factor for normal perfusion pressure breakthrough after AVM resection?
Large size
- characterized by post-op swelling or hemorrhage
- d/t loss of autoregulation in vessels of surrounding barin parenchyma
- Staged embolization and premedication with propranolol 20mg PO QID 3d before surgery can decrease risk
Mutation of which gene has been linked to cerebral amyloid angiopathy?
Presenilin (PS)
- amyloid precursor protein
- Amyloid angiopathy occurs due to amyloid AB deposits in cortical capillaries
KRIT-1 gene mutations are related to…
familial cerebral cavernous malformations
IV tPA should be administered within what time frame after symptom onset?
4.5hrs
tPA dosing: 0.9mg/kg (max dose 90mg)
IA tPA if onset <6hrs
MRCLEAN trial
-What did it show?
The MRCLEAN trial showed that in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a proximal intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation, intraarterial treatment performed within 6 hours after stroke onset was effective and safe.
- (IV tPA and Intra-arterial tx vs IV tPA alone)
- Absolute difference of 13.5% in rate of functional independence (32.6% vs 19.1%) in favor of intervention
symptomatic patients with carotid artery stenosis (< 50%) should receive…
Best medical tx
- antiplatelet therapy
- statins
- tx of htn, DM, diet correction, obesity
In patients who receive medical therapy alone for asymptomatic carotid stenosis of 60-99%, what is the 5-year risk of stroke or death?
Asymptomatic stenosis
- Medical management: 11%
- Both medical and CEA: 5.1%
Stroke and cardiovascular complications in CEA vs CAS
CREST trial
- Periprocedural rate of stroke was higher with CAS -Rate of MI was higher with CEA
- CEA and CAS all together had similar rates of periprocedural complications
- Quality of life analyses among survivors at 1yr indicated stroke had a greater adverse effect than did the MI
According to the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA), what is the 5yr risk of rupture of cavernous carotid artery aneurysms (<7mm) ina patient with h/o prev aneurysmal SAH
0% in pts with or without a h/o aneurysmal rupture
What factor significantly impacts the rerupture risk of a previously treated ruptured intracranial aneurysm?
Raymond–Roy Occlusion Classification (RROC; also known as the Montreal Scale, Modified Montreal Scale, or the Raymond Montreal Scale)
- Class 1: complete obliteration
- Class II: residual neck
- Class III: residual aneurysm
Class III aneurysms have a higher propensity to remain incompletely occluded and potentially rebleed
CARAT study - rerupture risk
- Complete occlusion: 1.1%
- 91-99% occl: 2.9%
- 70-90% occl: 5.9%
- <70% occl: 17.6%
Which anatomic feature best predicts risk of intracranial hemorrhage related to dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF):
-Presence of cortical venous drainage
Borden and Cognard classifications
Borden classification for dAVF
1) Venous drainage directly into venous sinus or meningeal veins
2) Venous drainage into dural venous sinus with Cortical venous reflux
3) Venous drainage directly into subarachnoid veins (CVR) only
Cognard classification for dAVF
1: confined to sinus, antegrade flow, no CVR
2a: confined to sinus, retrograde flow (reflux) into sinus, no CVR
2b: drains into sinus with reflux into cortical veins. Antegrade flow
2a+b: drains into sinus with reflux into cortical veins. Retrograde flow
3: Drains directly into cortical veins (40% hemorrhage)
4: Drains directly into cortical veins with venous ectasia (65% hemorrhage)
5. Spinal perimedullary venous drainage - progressive myelopathy
5yr cumulative rupture rates according to size and location of unruptured aneurysm
<7mm (if h/o prev SAH from diff aneurysm)
- Cavernous: 0% (0%)
- Anterior circ: 0% (1.5%)
- Posterior circ: 2.5% (3.4%)
7-12mm
- Cav: 0%
- Ant: 2.6%
- Post: 14.5%
13-24mm
- Cav: 3%
- Ant: 14.5%
- Post: 18.4%
> 25mm
- Cav: 6.4%
- Ant: 40%
- Post: 50%
Indications for acute SDH evacuation
> 10mm or MLS >5mm (regardless of GCS)
If doesn’t meet above criteria, surgery if GCS drops by > 2points from injury to admission and/or pupils are asymmetric or fixed/dilated
Lindegaard ratio
< 3: normal
3-6: mild-moderate
> 6: severe
- Very specific for diagnosis of cerebral vasospasm
- 60% sensitive
Most common presenting symptoms in newborns with vein of Galen malformations?
- Congestive heart failure (47%)
- Increased ICPs/hydro (40%)
- Cranial bruit (25%)
- Focal neurological deficit (16%)
- Seizures (11%)
- Hemorrhage (10%)
Vascular lesion with characteristic “Caput medusa” or sunburst appearance on angiography
DVA/venous angiomas
Brain bx shows deposition of beta amyloid protein appearing as birefringent “apple-green” under polarized light when stained with Congo red
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Most common presentation of a vein of Galen in an adolescent patient?
headache or seizure
Older children and adults with vein of Galen malformations usually have low-flow fistulae
Vein of Galen malformation classifications
Yasargil and lasjaunias
look it up
Radiographic criteria found in hydrocephalus
- Sella erosion
- Frontal horn’ percent of brain width is > 50%
- Temporal horns’ width is more than 2mm
- AP view shows disproportion of the ventricle size and sulci
- Bowing of third ventricle
Best management of an ethmoidal dural AVF with cortical venous drainage
Surgery
-vs. endovascular embolization: presence of retinal artery supply from the ophthalmic arteries –> Risk to vision
Pt presents with following. Most likely dx?
- Double vision
- Conjunctival congestion
- Decreased visual acuity
- Retro-orbital bruit
- Increased intraocular pressure
Carotid-cavernous fistula
- Indication to tx: Proptosis, visual loss, abducens palsy, intractable bruit, severely elevated intraocular pressure, cortical venous filling
- Best tx: Transvenous embolization via superior ophthalmic vein or petrosal sinus
Most common presentation of an adult patient with moyamoya
-Intracranial hemorrhage
Children: recurrent infarcts or TIAs. Also may have fine involuntary movements of the extremities and slowly progressive mental impairment