Neurology conditions flashcards

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Twenty flashcards on common brain, spine and nerve conditions: key symptoms, signs, tests and first treatment.

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20 cards

Brief focal deficit that resolves with no infarct on imaging?: Transient ischemic attack.
Sudden worst headache of life?: Subarachnoid hemorrhage, often from a ruptured aneurysm.
First test for suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage?: Noncontrast head CT.
Fever, headache and stiff neck: what comes first?: Empiric IV antibiotics plus dexamethasone, without delay.
Facial weakness on one side including the forehead?: Bell palsy, a peripheral facial nerve lesion.
Bell palsy treatment within 72 hours?: Oral corticosteroids.
Ascending weakness and lost reflexes after a diarrheal illness?: Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Fatigable ptosis and double vision worse late in the day?: Myasthenia gravis.
Blood test for myasthenia gravis?: Acetylcholine receptor antibodies.
Best imaging test for multiple sclerosis?: MRI of brain and spine with gadolinium.
Triad of normal pressure hydrocephalus?: Gait problems, urinary incontinence, dementia.
One-sided eye pain with tearing in brief nightly bouts?: Cluster headache.
Acute treatment of cluster headache?: High-flow 100% oxygen or subcutaneous sumatriptan.
First-line drug in status epilepticus?: A benzodiazepine such as IV lorazepam.
Back pain with saddle anesthesia and urinary retention?: Cauda equina syndrome; emergency MRI.
Fever, back pain and new deficit in an injection drug user?: Spinal epidural abscess.
Restless legs syndrome: lab to check?: Ferritin, to look for iron deficiency.
Action tremor that improves with alcohol?: Essential tremor.
Numbness of thumb, index and middle finger, worse at night?: Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acute fluctuating attention and awareness in a hospitalized older adult?: Delirium.