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Dementia 02

Topic: Imaging

Created on Thursday, February 22 2007 by jdmiles

Last modified on Thursday, February 22 2007.

A 87 year-old female presents to your office accompanied by her girlfriend, who provides most of the history.
The girlfriend states that for quite some time, the patient has complained of stiffness, occasionally mentions that she is seeing people in the room that nobody else sees, has been having progressively worsening memory problems, has been increasingly slow getting around, has had periods when she is lethargic and drowsy, and others when she is more alert, and has had trouble keeping his balance.
Which of the following pathology findings is MOST characteristic of this patient's disease?

 
        A) Inclusions comprised primarily of tau protein
 
        B) Amyloid plaques
 
        C) Neuronal aggregates
 
        D) Inclusions comprised primarily of alpha-synuclein
 
        E) Basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions
 

 


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This question was created on February 22, 2007 by jdmiles.
This question was last modified on February 22, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS




A) inclusions comprised primarily of tau protein

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history is consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patients with DLB develop Parkinsonian symptoms and dementia symptoms at approximately the same time. Other key clinical features include recurrent visual hallucinations and fluctuations in mental status. Lewy bodies are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions comprised mainly of alpha-synuclein, not tau protein.  (See References)

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B) amyloid plaques

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history is consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patients with DLB develop Parkinsonian symptoms and dementia symptoms at approximately the same time. Other key clinical features include recurrent visual hallucinations and fluctuations in mental status. Amyloid plaques are seen in DLB, but widespread Lewy bodies are a more defining feature.  (See References)

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C) neuronal aggregates

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history is consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patients with DLB develop Parkinsonian symptoms and dementia symptoms at approximately the same time. Other key clinical features include recurrent visual hallucinations and fluctuations in mental status. Neuronal aggregates and Bunina bodies are seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  (See References)

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D) inclusions comprised primarily of alpha-synuclein

This answer is correct.


This patient's history is consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patients with DLB develop Parkinsonian symptoms and dementia symptoms at approximately the same time. Other key clinical features include recurrent visual hallucinations and fluctuations in mental status. Lewy bodies are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions which contain alpha-synuclein.  (See References)

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E) basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions

This answer is incorrect.


This patient's history is consistent with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patients with DLB develop Parkinsonian symptoms and dementia symptoms at approximately the same time. Other key clinical features include recurrent visual hallucinations and fluctuations in mental status. Lewy bodies are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions.  (See References)

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References:

1. Victor, M., and Ropper, A.H. (2001). Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology, 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York.
2. DeKosky, S.T., Kaufer, D.I., and Lopez, O.L. (2004). The Dementias. In Bradley, W.G., Daroff, R.B., Fenichel, G.M., and Jankovic, J. (Eds.). Neurology in Clinical Practice, 4th Edition. Butterworth Heinemann, Philadelphia. Pp. 1901-1951
3. Prayson, R.A., and Goldblum, J.R. (Eds.) (2005). Neuropathology. Elsevier, Philadelphia.
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imaging
Dementia 02
Question ID: 02220701
Question written by J. Douglas Miles, (C) 2006-2009, all rights reserved.
Created: 02/22/2007
Modified: 02/22/2007
Estimated Permutations: 0

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