Neurology Buzzwords

Question 1

thunderclap headache

Answer 1

subarachnoid haemorrhage (PCKD)

Question 2

xanthochromic LP

Answer 2

SAH (fresh blood = traumatic tap)

Question 3

lucid period after head trauma, often followed by sudden collapse or deterioration

Answer 3

extradural haemorrhage

Question 4

cogwheel rigidity

Answer 4

parkinsons

Question 5

woody texture muscle swelling

Answer 5

duchenne or becker MD

Question 6

raised CK, toe walker or positive growers sign

Answer 6

muscular dystrophy

Question 7

mast like expression

Answer 7

parkinsons

Question 8

fluctuating cognitive deficit

Answer 8

lewy body dementia or delirium

Question 9

REM disturbance

Answer 9

LBD or PD

Question 10

vivid visual hallucinations normally of children and not threatening

Answer 10

lewy body dementia

Question 11

acute onset cognitive disturbance that fluctuates

Answer 11

delirium

Question 12

personality / behaviour changes then dementia

Answer 12

frontotemporal dementia (picks disease)

Question 13

memory and personality problems in someone with history of CVD

Answer 13

vascular dementia

Question 14

stepwise deterioration

Answer 14

vascular dementia

Question 15

pain on loud noise

Answer 15

facial nerve palsy

Question 16

painful third nerve palsy

Answer 16

aneurysm

Question 17

myalgia + myositis + myoglobinaemia / uria

Answer 17

rhabdomylosis (-> DIC and renal failure)

Question 18

inflammatory myopathy with poor response to steroids

Answer 18

inclusion body myositis

Question 19

weakness + frontal balding + cataracts + ptosis

Answer 19

myotonic dystrophy (onset 30+, +ve FH_

Question 20

leg symptoms and midline shift

Answer 20

falcine herniation

Question 21

back pain worse on coughing

Answer 21

slipped disc

Question 22

headache worse on coughing

Answer 22

posterior fossa issue

Question 23

BL sciatica and sexual dysfunction

Answer 23

cauda equina

Question 24

pleocytosis on CF

Answer 24

rules out bacterial meningitis

Question 25

migraine treatment

Answer 25

acute - paracetamol, triptins, NSAIDs, antiemetics prophylaxis - propranolol, topiramate or amtitriptyline

Question 26

injury upper brachial plexus

Answer 26

erbs palsy (waiters tip) - more common, associated with shoulder dystocia

Question 27

injury to lower brachial plexus

Answer 27

klumpkes palsy (claw hand)

Question 28

+ve simmonds test

Answer 28

achilles tendon rupture