Cranial Nerves and Vessels

Cranial Nerves and Vessels

What is Moyamoya Disease?

Moyamoya is a rare disease that is caused by blocked arteries in the basal ganglia. Moyamoya  means puff of smoke which is what this disease looks like. Moyamoya usually only occurs in children but can affect adults too.  

What are the symptoms?

Stroke - TIA

Sensory Impairment

Difficultly speaking

Involuntary Movements

Vision Problems

What are the causes?

The cause is unknown. 

What does it look like?

How is it treated?

Surgery without treatment moyamoya can be fatal.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis

What is chronic and acute sinusitis?

Sinusitis is when the sinuses are inflamed. Sinuses and nasal cavities can become swollen.   Acute sinusitis should only last no longer than eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis last longer than 8 weeks.  

What are the symptoms?

Sinusitis can cause the patient to have headaches, increased pressure on eyes, nose and cheeks. The patient can have a fever, cough, and nasal congestion. It can also be difficult to breathe through the nose.

What are the causes?

Sinusitis can be caused by a cold.

Sinusitis can be caused by an infection. Usually caused by a viral infection.

What does it look like?

How is it treated?

Acute Sinusitis: Treated with medications

Chronic Sinusitis: Treated with medications and surgery

Orbit Pathology: Brown's Syndrome

*Brown’s Syndrome*

What is Brown’s syndrome?

Brown’s syndrome occurs when the superior oblique muscle of the eye is not moving correctly. It is also known as superior oblique sheath syndrome. People can be born with this syndrome or it can develop later in life. It is usually more obvious in children. The patient can suffer some vision problems.

What are the symptoms?

-In appearance the eyes will be facing other directions when the person is looking straight ahead. This can occur in both eyes but is more likely to only occur in one.

-Someone with Brown’s syndrome will have a difficult time looking up because the muscle will not allow it.

What does this look like?



How is it treated?

For mild cases: Nonsurgical Treatment

               -Injecting steroids to decrease inflammation on the muscle

For other cases: Surgical Treatment

Pituitary Gland Pathology :Craniopharyngioma

What is craniopharyngioma?

Craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor that develops in kids between the ages of five and ten. It can also affect adults but it very rare. It affects the pituitary gland, optic nerve and  causes pressure to increase on the brain.

What are the Symptoms?

Increase pressure on the brain

-Headaches

-Vomiting

-Patient will have no balance

-Patient will have be very thirsty and have the urge to urination very often

-Stunted growth

-Optic nerve will be damaged

- Vision loss will occur and most times it will be permanent

What does this look like?

What is the Treatment?

Surgery

Radiation Therapy

ACOUSTIC NEUROMA

What is an acoustic neuroma?

Acoustic neuroma is a slow growing benign tumor on the 8^th cranial nerve. Another name for this tumor is vestibular schwannomas.  It can be diagnosed with auditory hearing test or an MRI.

What are the symptoms?

Hearing loss, ringing in the ears, loss of balance, dizziness, and facial weakness

What are the causes?

Acoustic neuroma can be inherited syndrome called neurofibromatosis type 2. This inherited syndrome is very rare and in most cases acoustic neuromas just sporadically occur.

What does it look like?

 

How is it treated?

Surgery and Radiation

Glioblastoma

What is Glioblastoma  Multiforme  ?

Glioblastoma is one of the most common types of metastatic brain tumors. It can form anywhere in the brain and is very fast growing. It can easily spread throughout the brain tissue. It can also occur throughout the spinal cord.  It forms when abnormal cells get out of control and they combine to form a tumor.    This type of tumor mainly occurs in adults. Men are more likely to have glioblastoma multiforme than women.

What are common symptoms?

Patients will have headaches. Usually their headaches will be worse in the mornings than throughout the day. Some patients may even feel the need to vomit and then start to feel better afterwards. Most of the usual headache medications will not work on these types of headaches.

What does it look like?

 

How is it Treated?

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of brain tumors. It is also very difficult to treat because it can spread so easily through the tissue in the brain.

Surgery

Most surgical attempts result in the glioblastoma returning in several months.

Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy

 Photos are from; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC33993/