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The foundations of clinical neurology include anatomy and physiology, the patient
history, the neurologic examination, and the intellectual exercise of identifying where in
the nervous system is the site, and what is the nature of the pathology.
In order to for the physician to come up with a differential diagnosis, a correct diagnosis,
and a prognosis for pathology and diseases affecting the nervous system, two questions
need to be answered: Where is the lesion? and What is the lesion? The information
in this handout is intended as an introduction to clinical thinking to help you in the CASE-
BASED PROBLEM SOLVING exercises which are a scheduled activity of the Brain and
Behavior I course.
SOME DEFINITIONS
Lesion-a zone of localized dysfunction within the CNS or PNS and may be anatomic
(structural damage) or physiologic (absence of demonstrable anatomic abnormalities).
Differential diagnosis-the process of making a diagnosis by comparing and analyzing
the similarities and differences between the signs, symptoms, and other findings
associated particularly with two or more diseases sharing certain characteristics; similar
conditions are systematically eliminated from consideration
SOME GENERALIZATIONS
Focal pathology causes signs and symptoms on the basis of a single, geographically
contiguous lesion.
Multi-focal pathology results in damage to the nervous system at multiple, separate
sites.
Diffuse dysfunction of the nervous system can result from toxins or metabolic
abnormalities.
Information from the examination and the history such as age, gender, and the general
medical context (smoking, hypertension, etc.) is important.
The time-course of the illness in many cases can provide invaluable information about
the nature of the illness.
Transient ischemic attacks: (brief, reversible neurologic dysfunction resulting from
reversible ischemia which resolves in about 24 hours) can be predictive of an
upcoming stroke.
TIME
LOCALIZATION is determined by the level of the nervous system in which the pathway
function is interrupted. To aid in localization, the functions of each of the major
anatomical levels are summarized below:
COMMON
LEVEL CLINICAL FINDING SIDE OF LESION SEGMENTAL SIGNS
OF THE LEVEL
Vision
Olfaction
SUPRA- Loss of sensation and/or weakness Contralateral to the deficit Cognition
TENTORIAL on the SAME side of the body and face Memory
Intelligence
Behavior
Seizures
Loss of sensation and/or weakness on Ipsilateral to side of the face Hearing
ONE side of the face and OPPOSITE side of body Tinnitus
Vertigo
POSTERIOR Cranial nerve deficit Diplopia
FOSSA Cerebellar deficit Ipsilateral to cranial nerve Dysarthria
Ipsilateral to cerebellar deficit, Dysphagia
cerebellar signs (incoordination)
Loss of pain and temperature on ONE side and Ipsilateral to loss of position Neck/back pain;
SPINAL weakness and loss of position sense on sense and weakness findings related to
OPPOSITE side of the body specific spinal level
Loss of sensation to all modalities in distribution of Ipsilateral to sensory loss Limb pain without back
nerve or sensory loss in glove-and-stocking pain; loss of sensation
distribution and muscle weakness
PERIPHERAL Muscle weakness in distribution of nerve in distribution of a
nerve
SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW TO GO ABOUT THE LESION LOCALIZING PROCESS
Think of each symptom or abnormal physical finding as a line segment that connects the
CNS to a muscle or sensory receptors out in the periphery. If all these line segments
intersect at a single point, that point will be where the lesion is localized. In the event
that there are two or more points where all the line segments intersect, each potential
localization site will need to be evaluated further by determining whether the patient has
other symptoms or signs that would be expected with a lesion in that location.
EXAMPLE 1:
A patient is found to have the following: (1) weakness of abduction of the little
finger on the right hand and (2) reduced pinprick sensation on the palmar surface
of the little finger of the right hand. Where is the lesion?
EXAMPLE 2:
A patient is found to have the following: (1) reduced pinprick sensation on the left
forehead and (2) reduced pinprick sensation on the palmar surface of the little
finger of the right hand. Where is the lesion?
EXAMPLE 3:
A patient is found to have reduced vibration sense in the left foot and reduced
pinprick sensation on the palmar surface of the little finger of the right hand.
Where is the lesion?
EXAMPLE 4:
A patient is found to have reduced vibration sense in the left and right foot and
the left and right hand. Where is the lesion?
This page and the following page are to help you begin developing a
vocabulary for lesion localizing as you work through case-based problems.
The following is a systematic survey of the nervous system with examples of lesions that
can be located in the following anatomic sites. It is by no means all-inclusive.
Roots: segmental motor deficit (may be mediated through several nerves if a plexus
lesion); sensory difficult due to dermatomal overlap
Spinal cord: decussation pattern is staggered for fine touch and pain and
temperature-permits localization within the cord; LMN signs and symptoms at the
level of injury with UMN signs and symptoms below the level of injury
Brainstem: functional deficits of the long tracts and cranial nerve signs and
symptoms can localize the lesion to the medulla, pons, or midbrain
Tumors: primary tumors of brain and spinal cord directly invade and destroy brain
tissue; hydroencephalus from compression of the ventricular system; progresses
over weeks, months, or years
Demyelinating diseases: can produce multiple lesions in the CNS white matter
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