Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Neurology > Pathology of the Brain > Flashcards

Pathology of the Brain Flashcards

(84 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What may cause an increase in ICP ?

A
  • Tumour
  • Infection - Abscess
  • Trauma
  • Haemorrhage
  • Hydrocephalus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a space occupying lesion ?

A

Intracranial space occupying lesions are tumours or abscesses present within the cranium or skull. These lesions put pressure on the adjacent brain tissue causing its damage.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the name given to the herniation of the cerebellum through the foramen magnum ?

A

Coning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is it called when the cerebrum passing below the tentorium cerebelli ?

A

Uncal herniation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the name given to the herniation of one half of the cerebrum under the falx ?

A

Cingulate/subfalcine herniation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where are the common sites of brain metastases ?

A

Colon, breast and lung

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the rule regarding location of adult and childhood brain tumours ?

A

Adult brain tumours usually arise above the tentorium and childhood tumours below the tentorium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the features of a Glioma ?

A
  • Diffuse edges - not encapsulated
  • Malignant
  • Growth time dependent on type
  • Multiple nuclei common
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the two types of Gliomas ?

A
  1. Glioblastoma multiforme - aggressive high grade forming a large tumour with necrosis.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a medulloblastoma ?

A

Seen commonly in children its origin is the embryonic neural crest cells. Sheet of small undifferentiated cells can be seen. Usually in the brainstem.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a meningioma ?

A

Benign lesion of the meninges, formed from arachnocytes. They are slow growing and often resectable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the calcification called seen with meningioma ?

A

Psammoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a Schwannoma ?

A

Nerve sheath tumour. Can be both within the skull and outside. An example is an acoustic neuroma which is found between the pons and cerebellum. Benign lesion but often hard to access.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a pituitary adenoma ?

A

Benign tumour of the pituitary gland which secretes hormones. Visual signs are common if the optic chiasma is compressed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a CNS lymphoma ?

A

High grade neoplasm, B cells. Hard to treat due to the BBB but generally doesn’t spread outside the CNS.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the features of a Haemangioblastoma ?

A

Blood vessel tumour, may bleed. Common in the cerebellum.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are most secondary tumours of the brain classed as ?

A

Carcinomas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is central venous thrombosis ?

A

Due to infection of the sinuses or orbit. Most common in young people due to the OCP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How does central venous thrombosis present ?

A
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Decreased consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Visual signs
  • Papilloedema
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the treatment for central vein thrombosis ?

A

Anticoagulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the foramina targeted in trigeminal nerve anaesthesia ?

A

Foramen ovale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How does normal pressure Hydrocephalus present (3) ?

A
  • Thinking and reasoning problems
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Difficulty walking
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Definition of coma

A

A state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be aroused

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the typical GCS of a coma patient ?

A

< 8

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
How must be working in order to maintain consciousness ?
- Reticular activating system (Arousal) | - Cerebral cortex (Awareness)
26
What is copiousness ?
Being alert and aware
27
Definition of a persisting negative state
Patient is unresponsive to all stimulus and displays no signs of higher brain function. Being kept alive by medical intervention.
28
What may cause a decreased GCS ?
- Seizures - Hypoxia - Hypoglycaemia - Alcohol/drug intoxication
29
How do you access a patient in a coma ?
Follow ABC
30
What causes an increase in breathing rate ?
- Hypoxia - Hypercapnia - Drug overdose
31
What decreases breathing rate ?
- Hypoglycaemia - Tumour - Drug overdose
32
What can you do to monitor a patient in a coma ?
- BP - Pulse - Take bloods (blood gas, toxicology and glucose) - Insert a wide bore cannula - Temperature
33
How do you access disability in coma (3) ?
1. Reflexes 2. GCS 3. Fundal examination
34
If a patient doesn't have Meningism or a focal brain injury what are the possible causes ?
- Drug overdose | - Hypoglycaemia
35
If a patient has Meningism but no focal brain injury what are the possible causes ?
- Meningitis | - Encephalitis
36
If a patient has/hasn't got Meningism and a focal brain injury what are the possible causes ?
- Tumour - Abscess - Haemorrhage
37
If a patient doesn't have Meningism or a focal brain injury what investigations would you do ?
- Bloods - BP - Toxicology
38
If a patient has Meningism but no focal brain injury what investigations would you do ?
- CT scan - LP - Bloods
39
If a patient does/doesn't have Meningism but does have a focal brain injury what investigations would you do ?
- CT/MRI scan - Blood cultures/cells counts - CT angiography - LP
40
What is 'Locked in' syndrome ?
Patient is in total paralysis from the 3rd never nuclei downwards, they can only elevate and depress eyes.
41
What is seen on MRI in a person with 'Locked in' syndrome ?
Pontine infarction
42
How can we care for patients in a coma ?
- Attend to bladder and bowel incontinence/problems - Turn and place on flow mattress to prevent pressure sores - DVT prophylaxis - Maintain vital functions e.g. ventilation and PEG tube
43
What common things result from head injury ?
- Diffuse axonal injury - Contusion - SAH - EDH - SDH
44
How do you access a patient with a head injury ?
- ABC - Ventilation if GCS <8 - Stabilise the spine - CT scan
45
How do you manage a patient with a head injury ?
- Maintain PO2 and PCO2 levels - Raise head - Emergency surgery - Mannitol - Analgesics
46
Which scale is used to access stroke patients ?
ROSIER scale
47
What predicts a stroke on the ROSIER scale ?
Score > 0. Scale runs from -2 to +5.
48
What is the emergency skull surgery called to relieve ICP pressure ?
Hemicraniectomy
49
Definition of stroke
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures).
50
What percentage of strokes are caused by ischaemia ?
85 %
51
What are the modifiable risk factors of a stroke ?
- Diet - Lack of exercise - Obesity - Hypertension - Diabetes - Smoking
52
What are the non-modifiable risk factors for a stroke ?
- Male - Age - FH - Previous stroke
53
Do anticoagulants or antiplatlets have any affect on prevention of strokes ?
Anticoagulants e.g. warfarin and DOAC's reduce risk but antiplatlets e.g. aspirin and clopidogrel do not.
54
What is the benefit of DOAC's over warfarin ?
Less chance of bleeding
55
If the ACA is occluded which areas of the body will it affect most ?
Legs more than arms
56
If the MCA is occluded which areas of the body will it affect most ?
Face and arms more than legs
57
What system is used to classify strokes ?
Oxford community stroke classification project (OCSP)
58
What are the 4 subtypes of strokes ?
TACS - Total anterior circulating stroke PACS - Partial anterior circulating stroke POCS - Posterior stroke LACS - Lacunar stroke
59
Which vessel is affected in a TACS ?
Main artery supplying one hemisphere of brain
60
Which vessel is affected in a PACS ?
Branch of a main artery
61
Which vessel is affected in POCS ?
Any posterior artery
62
Which vessels are affected in LACS ?
Small perforating arteries
63
What must be present in a patient with TACS ?
Hemianopia + neglect/dysphagia
64
How many or hemianopia/neglect/dysphagia are seen in PACS ?
One
65
In which stroke classification can you see cerebellar or brainstem signs ?
POCS
66
What is Agnosia ?
In ability to use senses to recognise things
67
What is Hemiplegia ?
Paralysis of one side of the body
68
What is Prosopagnosia ?
Inability to recognise faces
69
What is Anosagnosia ?
Denial or Hemiplegia
70
What cerebellar or brainstem signs would you seen in a patient with a POCS stroke ?
- Diplopia - Ataxia - Vertigo - Vision loss
71
What is Hoover's sign ?
Involuntary extension of the "normal" leg occurs when flexing the contralateral leg against resistance. Marks a functional disorder.
72
What is the treatment for a stroke ?
- Thrombolysis (TPA) < 4.5 hours - Thrombectomy - Stroke units - Anticoagulants - Statins - Beta blockers
73
What are the regulations for using TPA ?
- Must be within 4.5 hours of first symptoms - Must have symptoms for >60 minutes - Must have some disabling neurological deficit
74
What are the contraindications of TPA usage ?
- Clotting disorder - Recent bleeding event - Recent surgery
75
How do you investigate a stroke ?
- CT/MRI - Bloods - ECG - Carotid doppler ultrasound
76
What type of cells do Gliomas arise from ?
Astrocytes
77
How do we grade Gliomas ?
Grade 1-4
78
How do patients with tumours present ?
- Papilloedema - N/V - Altered consciousness in late stages - Seizures - Headaches
79
How are brain tumours diagnosed ?
- CT/MRI | - Biopsy
80
What scan is used to look for Metastases ?
- X-Ray of chest, abdomen and pelvis | - Mammography
81
What is the name of a very aggressive Glioma ?
Glioblastoma Multiforme
82
Where do brain metastases to the brain usually come from ? (4)
- Lung - Breast - Colon - Melanoma
83
What is the management of tumours ?
- Surgery - Chemotherpay/radiotherapy - Corticosteroids - Anti-convulsants if epilepsy - Analgesics
84
How do WHO classify brain tumours ? (2)
- Origin | - How they behave

Neurology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions