Neurology Review Flashcards

Flashcards about neurology and related topics

Sensory Disorders

Impairment in the perception of sensory stimuli (touch, pain, temperature, vibration, proprioception) due to dysfunction in sensory pathways.

Peripheral Neuropathy Etiology

Diabetes, alcoholism, vitamin deficiencies

Spinal Cord Lesions Etiology

Compression, trauma, multiple sclerosis

Stroke Etiology

Thalamic or parietal lobe lesions

Infections Etiology

Leprosy, HIV, herpes zoster

Genetic Disorders Etiology

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Negative Symptoms of Sensory Disorders

Numbness, loss of sensation

Positive Symptoms of Sensory Disorders

Tingling, burning pain (neuropathic pain)

Impaired Proprioception

Sensory ataxia (stomping gait)

Allodynia

Pain from non-painful stimuli

Sensory Disorder Investigations

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) & electromyography (EMG), MRI, Blood tests

Sensory Disorder Treatments

Address underlying cause, Neuropathic pain medications, Physical therapy

Disorders of Pyramidal System

Dysfunction of the corticospinal (pyramidal) tract, leading to impaired voluntary motor control.

Pyramidal System Etiology

Stroke, Spinal cord injury, Multiple sclerosis, ALS, Cerebral palsy

Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) Signs

Spasticity, Hyperreflexia, Babinski sign, Weakness

Pyramidal System Investigations

MRI brain/spine, CSF analysis, EMG/NCS

Pyramidal System Treatments

Spasticity medications, Physical therapy & rehabilitation, Surgical intervention

Extra-Pyramidal Disorders

Dysfunction of the basal ganglia, leading to movement disorders

Hypokinetic Etiology

Parkinson’s disease (dopamine deficiency)

Hyperkinetic Etiology

Huntington’s disease, dystonia, tardive dyskinesia

Parkinsonism Manifestations

Bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, postural instability

Chorea Manifestations

Irregular, involuntary movements (Huntington’s)

Dystonia Manifestations

Sustained muscle contractions causing twisting postures

Extra-Pyramidal Investigations

Clinical diagnosis, Genetic testing, DaTscan

Extra-Pyramidal Treatments

Parkinson’s medications, Chorea medications, Dystonia medications

Disorders of Motor Coordination (Ataxia)

Impaired coordination of voluntary movements due to cerebellar or sensory pathway dysfunction.

Cerebellar Ataxia Etiology

Stroke, tumors, multiple sclerosis, alcoholism

Sensory Ataxia Etiology

Peripheral neuropathy (B12 deficiency, diabetes)

Genetic Etiology

Friedreich’s ataxia, spinocerebellar ataxias

Cerebellar Ataxia Manifestations

Dysmetria, Dysdiadochokinesia, Intention tremor, Slurred speech

Sensory Ataxia Manifestations

Worsens with eyes closed (Romberg’s sign positive)

Ataxia Investigations

MRI brain, Genetic testing, Vitamin B12, thyroid function tests

Ataxia Treatments

Supportive (physical & occupational therapy), Treat underlying cause, Symptomatic management

Olfactory Disorders

Loss (anosmia) or distortion (parosmia) of smell perception.

Conductive Etiology

Nasal polyps, sinusitis, allergies

Sensorineural Etiology

Post-viral, head trauma, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s

Congenital Etiology

Kallmann syndrome

Anosmia Manifestation

Complete loss of smell

Hyposmia Manifestation

Reduced smell

Parosmia Manifestation

Distorted smell perception

Olfactory Disorder Investigations

Nasal endoscopy, MRI, Olfactory testing (UPSIT)

Conductive Treatments

Steroid nasal sprays, surgery (polypectomy)

Post-Viral Treatments

Olfactory training (smell retraining therapy)

Neurodegenerative Treatments

No effective treatment

Visual Disturbances

Abnormalities in vision due to disorders of the eyes, optic pathways, or visual cortex.

Refractive Errors Etiology

Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism

Optic Nerve Disorders Etiology

Optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy

Retinal Disorders Etiology

Retinal detachment, macular degeneration

Cortical Blindness Etiology

Bilateral occipital lobe damage (stroke, trauma)

Glaucoma Etiology

Increased intraocular pressure

Visual Disturbances Manifestations

Blurred vision, diplopia, scotoma

Optic Neuritis Manifestations

Pain on eye movement, unilateral vision loss

Retinal Detachment Manifestations

Flashes of light, floaters, curtain-like vision loss

Visual Disturbances Diagnosis

Ophthalmologic exam, Visual field testing, Optical coherence tomography (OCT), MRI

Visual Disturbances Investigations

Intraocular pressure measurement, Fluorescein angiography, Blood tests

Visual Disturbances Treatments

Corrective lenses, IV methylprednisolone, Surgical repair, Topical beta-blockers

CN III, IV, VI Disorders

Dysfunction of the nerves controlling eye movements, leading to ophthalmoplegia.

Ischemic Etiology

Microvascular (diabetes, hypertension)

Compressive Etiology

Aneurysm

Trauma Etiology

Head injury

Increased ICP Etiology

Increased ICP

Inflammatory Etiology

Multiple sclerosis

CN III Palsy

Ptosis, 'down and out' eye

CN IV Palsy

Vertical diplopia (worse on downward gaze), Head tilt to compensate

CN VI Palsy

Inability to abduct the eye (medial deviation)

CN III, IV, VI Disorders Diagnosis

Clinical examination, MRI, MRA/CTA

CN III, IV, VI Disorders Investigations

Blood glucose/HbA1c, Lumbar puncture

Microvascular Treatments

Self-resolves in 8-12 weeks

Compressive Treatments

Surgical intervention

Symptomatic Treatments

Prism glasses, botulinum toxin

Disorders of Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) Functions

Dysfunction of the sensory (face) and motor (muscles of mastication) components of CN V.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Etiology

Neurovascular compression

Trigeminal Neuralgia Etiology

Herpes zoster (shingles), Multiple sclerosis (demyelination), Tumors

Trigeminal Neuralgia Manifestations

Paroxysmal, lancinating facial pain

Trigeminal Neuralgia Manifestations

Triggered by chewing

Sensory Loss Symptom

Numbness in V1/V2/V3 regions

Motor Weakness Symptom

Jaw deviation to affected side

Disorders of Trigeminal Nerve Diagnosis

Clinical history, MRI brain

Disorders of Trigeminal Nerve Investigations

MRA

Trigeminal Neuralgia Treatments

Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, Microvascular decompression, gamma knife radiosurgery

Symptomatic Treatments

Gabapentin for neuropathic pain

Disorders of Facial Nerve (CN VII) Functions

Dysfunction of facial nerve leading to weakness or paralysis of facial muscles.

Bell’s Palsy Etiology

Idiopathic, likely viral (HSV-1)

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Etiology

Herpes zoster

Lyme Disease Etiology

Borrelia burgdorferi

Tumors Etiology

Acoustic neuroma, parotid gland tumor

Bell’s Palsy Manifestation

Acute unilateral facial droop

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Manifestation

Facial palsy + vesicular rash in ear, vertigo

Disorders of Facial Nerve Diagnosis

Clinical exam, Lyme serology, MRI

Disorders of Facial Nerve Investigations

EMG

Bell’s Palsy Treatments

Prednisone (within 72 hours), Antivirals (acyclovir if HSV suspected)

Ramsay Hunt Treatments

Acyclovir + steroids

Eye Protection Treatment

Artificial tears, tape closure

Disorders of Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII) Functions

Dysfunction of hearing (cochlear) and balance (vestibular) pathways.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss Etiology

Noise exposure, presbycusis, Ménière’s disease

Vestibular Neuritis Etiology

Viral inflammation