CNS Pathology: Cerebro-Vascular Accident
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Questions and Answers

What is the most common cause of ischemic infarcts in preterm very low body weight infants?

  • Ischemic insults in utero (correct)
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Coagulation disorders
  • Clinical features

Which clinical feature is associated with a left hemisphere stroke?

  • Aphasia (correct)
  • Right visual field defect
  • Spatial disorientation
  • Left hemiparesis

During which timeframe does acute infarct grossly appear as necrosis with neutrophilia?

  • Immediately after stroke
  • 1 - 4 days (correct)
  • 15 days - years
  • 5 - 14 days

Which option represents a less common cause of ischemic infarcts?

<p>Vasculitis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What changes characterize the subacute phase (5 - 14 days) of an infarct?

<p>More macrophage presence and necrosis (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is typical for a right hemisphere stroke?

<p>Left visual field defect (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a typical clinical feature of stroke?

<p>Visual hallucinations (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the chronic phase (15 days - years) of an infarct?

<p>Cavitated lesion and gliosis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which imaging technique is primarily used to visualize the vascular structures in cases of suspected intracranial hemorrhage?

<p>CT Angiography (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common cause of subdural hemorrhage in elderly patients?

<p>Cerebral atrophy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of intracranial hemorrhage is most frequently associated with trauma and middle meningeal artery rupture?

<p>Epidural hemorrhage (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage?

<p>Rupture of a saccular aneurysm (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT affect prognostic outcomes for patients experiencing a CVA?

<p>Previous surgical history (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which laboratory test is essential to rule out coagulation disorders before thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke?

<p>Coagulation tests (aPTT, PT, TT) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of intracranial hemorrhage involves bleeding within the brain tissue itself?

<p>Intracerebral hemorrhage (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is least likely to cause intraparenchymal hemorrhage?

<p>Hyperglycemia (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of ischemic stroke?

<p>Decreased blood flow due to thrombosis or embolism (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which site in the CNS is most commonly affected by ischemic stroke?

<p>Middle cerebral artery (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which risk factor for stroke is considered modifiable?

<p>Hyperlipidemia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What classification of stroke does not include ischemic or hemorrhagic types?

<p>Transient stroke (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains the pathophysiological process in ischemic stroke?

<p>Decreased blood flow resulting in liquefactive necrosis (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the epidemiology of stroke is true?

<p>It is the second most common cause of neurologic disability worldwide (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common clinical feature of ischemic stroke?

<p>Sudden weakness or numbness in one side of the body (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of treatment principles for stroke?

<p>To restore normal blood flow and minimize damage to brain tissue (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a less common clinical feature associated with a left hemisphere stroke?

<p>Right visual field defect (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to the pathology of ischemic infarcts?

<p>Excessive hydration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of infarct morphology is characterized by blurring of the gray-white matter junction?

<p>Acute (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which stage of an infarct do macrophages become significantly present?

<p>Subacute (5 - 14 days) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary clinical diagnosis feature for right (non-dominant) hemisphere strokes?

<p>Left visual field defect (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process predominantly occurs during the chronic phase (15 days - years) of an infarct?

<p>Cavitated lesions surrounded by gliosis (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a common clinical symptom for both types of hemisphere strokes?

<p>Dysarthria (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which condition might NOT lead to ischemic injury in utero among very low birth weight infants?

<p>Atherosclerosis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does not describe an acute phase symmetry of an infarct's gross appearance?

<p>Cavitated lesions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism leading to cell death in CNS infarction?

<p>Ischemic injury (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic is associated with a higher incidence of cerebrovascular accident?

<p>Males (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the pathophysiological impact of ischemic stroke on cerebral tissue?

<p>Liquefactive necrosis due to cell death (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common clinical feature exhibited during ischemic stroke?

<p>Unilateral weakness (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common site of occurrence for embolic strokes in the brain?

<p>Middle cerebral artery (MCA) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which risk factor is categorized as modifiable in relation to stroke occurrence?

<p>Smoking (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of prognosis following a stroke, which factor plays a decisive role?

<p>Age of the patient (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of intracranial hemorrhage is primarily associated with a vascular insult?

<p>Intracerebral hemorrhage (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What diagnostic method is most reliable for assessing CNS infarction?

<p>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the epidemiology of stroke?

<p>Approximately 12 million strokes occur worldwide each year. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What condition is MOST commonly associated with epidural hemorrhage?

<p>Trauma with temporal bone fracture (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a leading cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage?

<p>Rupture of a saccular (berry) aneurysm (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT contribute to a worse prognosis in patients with cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs)?

<p>Younger age at presentation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of intracranial hemorrhage is characterized by diffuse injury at the gray-white matter junction?

<p>Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which demographic are subdural hemorrhages MOST commonly found?

<p>Elderly patients with cerebral atrophy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following laboratory tests is critical for assessing coagulation status before thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke?

<p>Platelet count (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of intraparenchymal hemorrhage?

<p>Massive hemorrhage can displace surrounding brain tissue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of intracranial hemorrhage primarily occurs in the context of trauma?

<p>Epidural hemorrhage (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following can be a cause of intracerebral hemorrhage?

<p>Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following imaging techniques is NOT typically associated with the diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage?

<p>ECG (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is a stroke?

A sudden neurological deficit caused by vascular insult to the brain, such as thrombosis, embolism, or hemorrhage, resulting in reduced blood supply and hypoxia.

What is CNS infarction?

Cell death in the central nervous system due to insufficient blood flow, causing damage based on imaging, neuropathology, or clinical assessment.

What is the prevalence of stroke?

Stroke is the second most common cause of neurological disability worldwide.

What are the risk factors for stroke?

Factors that influence the chance of developing stroke. They can be modifiable, such as lifestyle choices, or non-modifiable, such as genetics.

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What is the most common site of ischemic stroke?

The middle cerebral artery is the most commonly affected vessel in the brain by thromboembolism due to factors like atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, or internal carotid atherosclerotic plaque fragmentation.

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How does an Ischemic Stroke affect the brain?

Ischemic stroke occurs when there's a decreased blood flow to the brain. This can lead to tissue damage called liquefactive necrosis. The resulting brain swelling can increase intracranial pressure and cause herniation.

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How are strokes classified?

The classification of a stroke depends on its duration, type (ischemic or hemorrhagic), location (focal or global), blood vessel affected, and severity.

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How is a stroke diagnosed?

It is the process of identifying the cause of a stroke, which can involve a physical exam, medical history, imaging studies, and potentially blood tests.

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What are the primary causes of stroke?

Atherosclerosis, heart disease, and high blood pressure are the most common causes of stroke, leading to blockage of blood flow to the brain.

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What is an ischemic stroke?

A clot forms in a blood vessel, blocking blood flow to the brain, causing damage to brain tissue.

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What is an arterial dissection?

Weakening of blood vessel walls, leading to a tear and blood leaking into the vessel wall, blocking blood flow.

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What is vasculitis?

Inflammation affecting blood vessels, directly impacting blood flow to the brain.

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What is an ischemic insult in utero?

Damage to brain tissue occurs due to reduced blood flow, most commonly in preterm or low-birth weight infants.

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What is contralateral hemiparesis?

Weakness on one side of the body, opposite to the location of the brain damage.

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What is hemianesthesia?

Loss of sensation on one side of the body, opposite to the location of brain damage.

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What is aphasia?

Inability to speak or understand language, typically due to damage in the dominant hemisphere of the brain.

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Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH)

Bleeding within the skull, including subtypes like intracerebral, subarachnoid, epidural, and subdural hemorrhage.

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Epidural Hemorrhage

Bleeding between the dura mater and the skull, usually caused by trauma.

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Subdural Hemorrhage

Bleeding between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater, often occurring in elderly patients with cerebral atrophy.

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Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Bleeding into the subarachnoid space, most commonly caused by a ruptured aneurysm.

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Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage

Bleeding within the brain tissue, often caused by hypertension or vascular malformations.

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Saccular (Berry) Aneurysm

A weakened and bulging blood vessel in the brain that is at risk of bursting and causing subarachnoid hemorrhage.

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Epidural Hematoma

A collection of blood that forms between the dura mater and the skull.

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Subdural Hematoma

A collection of blood that forms between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater.

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What is Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH)?

Bleeding within the skull can occur in different areas, such as inside the brain tissue, in the space between the brain and the skull, or within the space surrounding the brain.

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What is an Epidural Hemorrhage?

A type of ICH where bleeding occurs between the dura mater and the skull, often caused by head trauma.

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Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

Diffuse injury at the level of the gray-white matter junction seen in high velocity injuries.

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Hemorrhage into Brain (Parenchyma)

Massive hemorrhage displaces and compresses the surrounding brain tissue. Smaller hemorrhages may be subacute or chronic. Causes include hypertension, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and subarachnoid aneurysms.

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What are the main causes of CVA?

Atherosclerosis, cardiac pathology and hypertension are the main culprits, but less common causes include vasculitis, coagulation disorders, arterial dissection, and more.

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What is the leading cause of brain injury in preterm infants?

The most common cause of brain injury in preterm infants is due to reduced blood flow during development.

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What happens to the brain in the subacute phase of a stroke?

This stage is marked by more necrosis (cell death) and an influx of macrophages, which are involved in cleaning up the dead tissue.

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What happens to the brain in the chronic phase of a stroke?

Characterized by a cavity forming in the brain tissue, where blood vessels are surrounded by a scar made of glial cells.

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What are the gross and microscopic changes in the brain during the acute phase of stroke?

It involves a blurring of the boundary between white and gray matter in the brain, visible on imaging. Microscopically, it involves edema and red neurons.

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What are the gross and microscopic changes in the brain during the subacute phase of stroke?

It's marked by a cracking artifact in the tissue, indicating damage. Microscopically, there's a dense infiltration of macrophages, and the blood vessels are trying to rebuild themselves.

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What are the gross and microscopic changes in the brain during the chronic phase of stroke?

It results in cavitated lesions (holes in the brain) filled with macrophages. The area is surrounded by gliosis, which is the formation of scar tissue by glial cells.

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How does a stroke in the left hemisphere differ from a stroke in the right hemisphere?

Left hemisphere damage can lead to right-sided weakness, sensory loss, visual field deficits, and language issues. Right hemisphere damage can cause similar symptoms on the left side, but also spatial disorientation.

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Study Notes

CNS Pathology: Cerebro-Vascular Accident

  • Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is also known as cerebrovascular disease (CVD) or stroke
  • Stroke is defined as an acute neurological deficit due to vascular insult. Possible causes include thrombosis, embolism, or hemorrhage
  • Stroke is associated with low blood supply/hypoxia ("Low O2")
  • CNS infarction is cell death due to ischemic injury in the CNS. Determination is based on imaging, neuropathology, or clinical assessment

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will define ischemic stroke
  • Students will describe the epidemiology of stroke
  • Students will identify the most common sites of stroke
  • Students will explain stroke pathophysiology
  • Students will identify the etiology of stroke
  • Students will list common stroke clinical features.
  • Students will describe the gross and microscopic features of stroke
  • Students will describe methods for diagnosing stroke
  • Students will define treatment principles in stroke
  • Students will identify prognostic factors in stroke
  • Students will describe different types of intracranial hemorrhages

CVA Lecture Outlines

  • Definition
  • Epidemiology
  • Sites of stroke
  • Pathophysiology
  • Etiology of stroke
  • Clinical features
  • Macro and microscopic descriptions of stroke lesions
  • Stroke diagnosis
  • Stroke treatment
  • Stroke prognosis
  • Intracranial hemorrhage

Epidemiology of Stroke

  • Stroke is the second leading cause of neurological disability after Alzheimer's disease globally
  • Approximately 12 million strokes occur annually worldwide, resulting in around 4 million deaths
  • Stroke is the third most common cause of death worldwide

Risk Factors

  • Non-modifiable: Age, gender (male), race, hereditary factors, and stress
  • Modifiable: Hypertension (HT), Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Smoking, Hyperlipidemia, Excessive alcohol consumption, Cardiac diseases (e.g., atrial fibrillation (AF)), Oral contraceptives, Hypercoagulability, Diet/Sedentary lifestyle

Sites of Ischemic Stroke

  • Ischemic stroke can affect any site in the central nervous system (CNS)
  • The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is frequently affected, leading to various neurological consequences
  • Thromboembolism, atherosclerotic plaque fragmentation, and atrial fibrillation are potential causes of MCA blockage

Pathophysiology

  • Decreased blood flow: Liquefactive necrosis
  • Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and herniation: Due to edema or hemorrhage
  • Additional details of pathophysiology, such as diagrams/images of various stages, may also be helpful.

Etiology of CVA

  • Most common: Atherosclerosis, cardiac pathology, and hypertension
  • Less common: Vasculitis, coagulation disorders, arterial dissection, reversible vasoconstriction syndrome, HIV-associated arteriopathy, Moyamoya disease, and fat embolism
  • Ischemic insults in utero are the most frequent cause of cerebral injury among preterm/very low birthweight infants

Clinical Features of CVA

  • Symptoms depend on the location of the ischemic brain tissue

  • Common symptoms:

    • Contralateral hemiparesis (weakness on opposite side of the body)
    • Hemianesthesia (loss of sensation on one side of the body)
    • Aphasia (language impairment)
  • Left hemisphere stroke: Aphasia, right-sided hemiparesis, right-sided sensory loss, poor visual attention

  • Right hemisphere stroke: Left-sided visual field defect, extinction of left-sided stimuli, left-sided hemiparesis, left-sided sensory loss, spatial disorientation

  • Additional detailed clinical features (symptoms and signs) based on location of stroke should also be added.

Gross Description of Stroke Lesions

  • Acute infarct (1-4 days): Neurons more susceptible to ischemia than glia, necrosis, and neutrophilia.
  • Subacute (5-14 days): More necrosis, increased macrophages.
  • Chronic (15 days - years): Cavitated lesion, vessels present, macrophages, glial scar.

Macro & Microscopic Description

  • Infarct morphology depends on the time interval between stroke onset and brain examination.
  • Acute: blurring of gray-white matter junction, edema, and red neurons (microscopically)
  • Subacute: cracking artifact,(gross), dense macrophage infiltration, and neovascularization (micro)
  • Chronic: cavitated lesions (gross) with macrophages, and surrounding gliosis (micro)

Diagnosis

  • Clinical assessment: Identifying neurological signs and symptoms
  • Imaging: CT, CT angiography, MRI, PET, ECG, X-ray
  • Laboratory: CBC, Platelet count, coagulation tests (aPTT, PT, TT) are useful to rule out coagulation disorders. Other tests include blood glucose, serum electrolytes, renal function tests (RFT), and liver function tests (LFT).

Treatment

  • For acute ischemic stroke (within 6-8 hours of onset):
    • Systemic thrombolysis
    • Thrombectomy

Prognostic Factors in Stroke

  • Age at presentation
  • Degree of neurological impairment
  • Infarct volume and location

Intracranial Hemorrhages

  • Bleeding within the skull.
  • Different subtypes include intracerebral, subarachnoid, epidural, and subdural hemorrhages
  • These can be caused by trauma or various un-traumatic conditions

Types of Intracranial Hemorrhage: Learning Objectives

  • Describe various types of intracranial hemorrhage
  • List common causes for each type of intracranial bleeding

Types of Intracranial Hemorrhages

  • Epidural
  • Subdural
  • Subarachnoid
  • Intraparenchymal

Epidural Hemorrhage

  • Typically from trauma, most commonly from a temporal bone fracture and rupture of the middle meningeal artery

Subdural Hemorrhage

  • May or may not follow trauma
  • Most frequent in elderly persons with cerebral atrophy or individuals with systemic cancer/CNS tumors

Subarachnoid Hemorrhages

  • Commonly caused by the rupture of a saccular (Berry) aneurysm.
  • Additional causes include vascular malformations, trauma, hematological disorders, and tumors.

Hemorrhage into Parenchyma

  • Massive hemorrhage displaces and compresses surrounding brain tissue. Smaller hemorrhages can be subacute or chronic.
  • Common causes: Hypertension, Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs), Subarachnoid aneurysms

Intracerebral Hemorrhage

  • Bleeding within the brain tissue, often due to high blood pressure.
  • Can subdivide into intraventricular and intraparenchymal hemorrhages

Causes of Intracranial Hemorrhage

  • Traumatic: Most common cause
  • Non-traumatic: Hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hemorrhagic conversion of ischemic infarction, cerebral aneurysms, dural arteriovenous fistulae, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, cerebral vasculitis, mycotic aneurysm

Complications of Intracranial hemorrhage

  • Coma
  • Persistent vegetative state
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Death

Classification of Stroke

  • Transient
  • Evolving
  • Completed
  • Ischemic (thrombotic/embolic, hemorrhagic)
  • Focal or global
  • Arterial or venous
  • Variable severity, depending on location and type

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Description

This quiz explores the essential aspects of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes), including their definition, causes, and effects on the body. Students will learn to identify various types of strokes, their common clinical features, and the methods of diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive understanding of stroke pathophysiology and epidemiology is aimed for.

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