Pathology of Brain Tumours

Question 1

What does the falx ceribri and the tentorium do?

Answer 1

Kinda stops the brain from moving around although can still “herniate” (when parts of the brain shift across to parts they’re not supposed to be in)

Question 2

What can cause raised incracranial pressure?

Answer 2

Things within the brain that shouldn’t be - eg tumour, haematoma, abscess

Also generalised causes eg Oedema post trauma

Question 3

What is uncal herniation?

Answer 3

When the cerebrum moves inferiorly over the edge of the tentorium. aka tentorial herniation

Question 4

What is coning aslo known as?

Answer 4

Cerebellotonsillar herniation

Question 5

What is likely to be pushed under the falx in left-right shift? What is this also known as?

Answer 5

cingulate gyrus. Also known as Subfalcine herniation

Question 6

What type of headache if increased icp? What otrehr symptom is seen on examination?

Answer 6

Often morning headaches and sickness.

Papilloedema (seen on fundoscopy of the eye)

Question 7

What happens to the pupils as pressur eincreases?

Answer 7

Dilation (cuts off parasymp supply of occulormotor nerve)

Question 8

GCS effect if icp is rising?

Answer 8

GCS will fall

Question 9

Is meningoma from within the CNS?

Answer 9

NO! It is from the men inges, so arising from outside the brian and spinal chord.

Question 10

what is the role of ependymal cells

Answer 10

Produce CSF

Question 11

Are glial cell mgliomas malignant

Answer 11

Yes, they are considered malignant although some are super slow growing.

Question 12

WHat is medulloblsatma from?

Answer 12

Embryonic neural cells - a type of cancer that is only really seen in children and infants. Malignant

Question 13

Sites of CNS tumours children vs dults

Answer 13

Children tend to be below the tentorium, whereas in adults they are ususally above.

Question 14

What is Glioma?

Answer 14

Tumour that resembles cells of glial differentiation

Question 15

Glioma features

Answer 15

Diffuse edges, malignant but no metastases outside the cns

Question 16

what is glioblsatoma?

Answer 16

A type of Astrocytoma, cuases necrosis and presents as large tumours

Question 17

glioblastoma vs low grade astrocytoma

Answer 17

Glioblastoma is the most malignant form of astrocytoma, whereas a low grade astrocytoma is very slow growing.

Question 18

medulloblastoma is a tumour of what cells?

Answer 18

primitive neuroectoderm (primitive neural cells).

Froms posterior fossa, esp. Brainstem

Question 19

What are meningoma from? Benign/malignant? What does a meningioma do to the brian?

Answer 19

From “arachnocytes”.

Regarded as benign

As it is outside of the brain, it just pushes the brain over slightly.

Question 20

What is a psammoma body?

Answer 20

Calcification of a meningoma

Question 21

What is acoustic neuroma?

Answer 21

Schannoma of the 8th vestibulocochlear nerve .

Pons-cerebellum angl, therefore really hard to remove

Question 22

Is pituitary adenoma benign or malignant? What does it secrete?

Answer 22

Benign, secretes pituitary hormone

Question 23

CNS Lymphoma?

Answer 23

Large B cell lymphoma, deep sites, high grade neoplasm, but generally doesnt spread outside of the cns

Question 24

Haemangioblastoma?

Answer 24

Space occupying tumour of the blood vessles, most often in the cerebellum

Question 25

What is the most common type of secondary tuours?

Answer 25

Carcinomas (Eithelial cells)

Question 26

What is the differenced haemorrhage vs haematoma?

Answer 26

Haematoma is a locaised bleed, whereas a haemorrhage isn’t