CNS Pathology: Vascular Diseases, Infections, and Tumors

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of the cardiac output does the brain receive?

15% (correct)

20%

10%

25%

What is the third common cause of death in the USA?

Respiratory diseases

Cancers

Vascular diseases of the brain (correct)

Infections

What is the most common cause of cerebral infarcts?

Hypertension

Atherosclerosis (correct)

Diabetes Mellitus

Smoking

What is the main cause of occlusion of atherosclerotic cerebral vessels?

Thrombosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common location of emboli occlusion in cerebrovascular accidents?

Middle cerebral artery Signup and view all the answers

What is the decade of life when cerebral infarcts are most common?

Seventh decade Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Rupture of saccular (berry) aneurysm Signup and view all the answers

Where are the sites of parenchymal hemorrhage of the brain typically located?

Basal ganglia Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the wall of a berry aneurysm?

It is composed of collagen tissue derived from the intima and adventitia of the parent vessel Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for inflammation of the meninges and subarachnoid space?

Leptomeningitis Signup and view all the answers

What is the incidence of saccular aneurysms in the general population?

1% Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that influences the distribution of cerebral infarcts?

Site of arterial occlusion Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the lumen of a berry aneurysm?

It contains thrombus Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for episodes of neurological dysfunction lasting from several minutes to up to 24 hours?

Transient ischemic attack Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the gross and histological appearance of the brain within the first 4 to 12 hours of cerebral infarction?

Normal appearance Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery?

Embolism Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the liquefaction of the necrotic area that occurs within 6 months after cerebral infarction?

Softening and liquefaction Signup and view all the answers

Which type of hemorrhage is usually traumatic?

Epidural and subdural hemorrhage Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of meningitis in the neonatal period?

Flora of maternal genital tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic finding in the meninges of a patient with leptomeningitis?

Infiltration with neutrophils and fibrin material Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common location of tumors in children?

Posterior fossa Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common type of spinal cord tumor?

Schwannoma, meningioma, and ependymoma Signup and view all the answers

Why are metastases of primary CNS tumors outside CNS rare?

Because they usually occur along brain and spinal cord via subarachnoid space or due to surgery related implantation of tumor cells into vessels Signup and view all the answers

What are the precursors of neurons and glial cells that can give rise to tumors?

Neural stem cells, precursors of neurons and glial cells Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cerebral Blood Flow and Health Statistics

The brain receives approximately 15-20% of the cardiac output.
Cerebrovascular disease ranks as the third most common cause of death in the USA.

Cerebral Infarcts

The leading cause of cerebral infarcts is embolism.
A major cause of occlusion in atherosclerotic cerebral vessels is thrombosis.
The middle cerebral artery is commonly affected in cerebrovascular accidents, with emboli occlusive events frequently occurring there.
Cerebral infarcts are most prevalent in individuals aged 70-80 years.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Aneurysms

The most common cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage is the rupture of a saccular (berry) aneurysm.
Berry aneurysms typically have a thin wall that lacks a muscular layer.
These aneurysms exhibit an irregular lumen.

Meningitis and Neurological Events

Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the meninges and subarachnoid space.
The incidence of saccular aneurysms in the general population is estimated at 1-5%.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are defined as episodes of neurological dysfunction lasting from minutes to 24 hours.

Brain Infarction

Within 4 to 12 hours of cerebral infarction, the brain shows characteristic gross and histological changes, such as cytotoxic edema and cell death.
Liquefactive necrosis, occurring after cerebral infarction, is observed within 6 months.

Hemorrhage Types and Meningitis

Traumatic incidents typically cause subdural or epidural hemorrhages.
Group B Streptococcus is the most common cause of meningitis in neonates.
Leptomeningitis presents with characteristic findings such as increased white blood cells and protein in the CSF.

Tumors in the CNS

The most common location for tumors in children is the posterior fossa.
The most frequently encountered type of spinal cord tumor is an ependymoma.
Metastases from primary CNS tumors to areas outside the CNS are rare due to the blood-brain barrier.
Tumors can arise from precursors of neurons and glial cells, leading to a variety of CNS malignancies.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the central nervous system (CNS) pathology, including vascular diseases, infections, and tumors. Learn about the brain's autoregulation mechanisms and the causes of cerebrovascular accidents. Assess your understanding of these critical concepts in neurology.