Cerebrovascular diseases — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Immobilization, cardiac wall dysfunction (arrhythmia, MI), and aneurysm increase risk of _____ due to disruption of blood flow

Answer: thrombosis

Flashcard 2: Ischemic strokes result in the formation of a fluid-filled cystic space surrounded by _____ (reactive astrocytes that line cystic space)

Answer: gliosis

Flashcard 3: What connective tissue disease is associated with berry aneurysms? _____

Answer: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Flashcard 4: Intraparenchymal hemorrhage may be seen with _____ angiopathy, which is characterized by recurrent lobar hemorrhagic strokes in the elderly

Answer: amyloid

Flashcard 5: Which vascular layer do saccular (berry) aneurysms lack?_____

Answer: Tunica Media

Flashcard 6: What is the term for infarcted tissue in the basal ganglia or internal capsule caused by occlusion of a lenticulostriate artery?

Answer: lacunar infarct

Flashcard 7: epidural hematoma

Answer: rupture of middle meningeal artery; fracture of temporal bone

Extra: rapid arterial bleedinglucid interval followed by decreased LOC; CN 3 palsy, increased ICPCT: biconvex, hyperdense blood; does not cross sutures; may cross falx, tentorium 

Flashcard 8: What is the cause of central pontine myelinolysis?

Answer: Often iatrogenic; caused by rapid correction of chronic hyponatremia.

Extra: - Pathogenesis: Massive axonal demyelination of pontine white matter tracts. - Clinical Features: Acute paralysis, dysarthria, dysphagia, diplopia, loss of consciousness; may progress to locked-in syndrome. - MRI (T2): Increased signal (hyperintensity) in the central pons. - Mnemonic: "From Low to High (Sodrum), your Pons will Die."

Flashcard 9: Which vessel is ruptured in a Subdural Hematoma?

Answer: Bridging veins rupture (crescent-shaped on CT)

Extra: Mechanism: Slow venous bleeding via rupture of bridging veins. Clinical: Decreased LOC, increased ICP. CT findings: Crescent-shaped, hyperdense blood (in acute phase); crosses suture lines; does not cross dural attachments (falx, tentorium). Risk factors: Brain atrophy, elderly, alcoholics, shaken baby syndrome.

Flashcard 10: Classic clinical presentation of subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Answer: "Worst headache of my life" (Thunderclap headache)

Extra: - Cause: Rapid arterial bleeding, most commonly from rupture of a berry (saccular) aneurysm. - Symptoms: Decreased LOC, increased ICP, meningismus. - Diagnosis: - CT: Blood in cisterns and gyri. - Lumbar Puncture: Bloody or xanthochromic (yellow) CSF. - Complications: Late-onset vasospasm (3–10 days later); Nimodipine is used for prevention. - Risk of rebleeding.