Dementia 02
Topic: Imaging
Created on Thursday, February 22 2007 by jdmiles
Last modified on Thursday, February 22 2007.
A 89 year-old male presents to your office accompanied by his girlfriend, who provides most of the history.
The girlfriend states that for quite some time, the patient has had trouble keeping his balance, has complained of rigidity, has had increasing difficulty inititiating movement, has been forgetting things more frequently, has been distressed from seeing visions of skinny teal mustangs, and has had periods when he is lethargic and drowsy, and others when he is more alert.
Which of the following pathology findings is MOST characteristic of this patient's disease?
A) Neuronal aggregates B) Lesions in the mammillary bodies C) Inclusions comprised primarily of tau protein D) Inclusions comprised primarily of alpha-synuclein E) Punctate hemorrhages in periaqueductal grey and in the grey matter surrounding the 3rd and 4th ventricles
This question was created on February 22, 2007 by jdmiles.
This question was last modified on February 22, 2007.
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS
A) 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)
B) lesions in the mammillary bodies
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. Lesions in the mammillary bodies are seen in Korsakoff amnestic state. (
See References)
C) 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)
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)
E) punctate hemorrhages in periaqueductal grey and in the grey matter surrounding the 3rd and 4th ventricles
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. Punctate hemorrhages in periaqueductal grey and in the grey matter surrounding the 3rd and 4th ventricles are seen in Wenicke encephalopathy. (
See References)
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. | |
FrontalCortex.com -- Neurology Review Questions -- Neurology Boards -- Board Review -- Residency Inservice Training Exam -- RITE Exam Review
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