Differential diagnosis — Flashcards

Flashcard 11: What is the latest that MRI can detect ischemic stroke?

Answer: 10 days

Flashcard 12: lateral pontine syndrome

Answer: AICA stroke

Extra: acute vomiting, vertigo, nystagmus, facial paralysis, facial sensory loss, Horner's syndrome, ataxia, dysmetria decreased: lacrimation, taste, corneal reflex, hearing mnemonic: facial droop means AICA's pooped

Flashcard 13: ischemic stroke

Answer:

Extra: atherosclerotic embolus blocks large vesseldiffusion-weighted MRI: bright CT: dark tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within 4.5 hoursatrial fibrillation, carotid dissection, patent foramen ovale, endocarditis

Flashcard 14: What imaging modality can identify stroke most rapidly?

Answer: diffusion-weighted MRI

Flashcard 15: What is the earliest that MRI can detect ischemic stroke?

Answer: 3-30 minutes

Flashcard 16: How soon after the event can CT detect ischemic stroke?

Answer: ~24 hours

Flashcard 17: transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Answer:

Extra: focal ischemiabrief, reversible episode of focal neurologic dysfunction lasting <1 hrMRI: no evidence of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke

Flashcard 18: communicating hydrocephalus

Answer: decreased CSF absorption by arachnoid granulations

Extra: papilledema incompleteincreased ICPall ventricles enlarged in equal proportions

Flashcard 19: normal pressure hydrocephalus

Answer: slow build-up of fluid in subarachnoid space and ventricles

Extra: in elderly: urinary incontinence, ataxia, cognitive dysfunctionnormal ICPincrease in volume of subarachnoid space

Flashcard 20: status epilepticus

Answer:

Extra: acute: diazepam/lorazepam prophylaxis: phenytoin