Essay Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery: methods of diagnostics

Kamila Mustafina201083328

Nazarbayev University

What is neurosurgery?

• Neurosurgery is a field of medicine that studies how to prevent, diagnose and treat disorders of nervous system, which includes:– Brain– Spine– Spinal cord– Peripheral nerves

Nervous system

Figure 1. Brain receives impulses through the nerves spread around the body. Picture from A.D.A.M. encyclopedia

Figure 2. The nerve cell – neuron has long axons that transmit signals. Picture from biocog.net

Nervous system: brain

Figure 3. Brain structure. Being the controlling organ of the body, brain is divided into regions. On this picture each compartment is clearly shown. Picture from www.emc.manicopa.edu

Nervous system disorders

Brain damage

Brain dysfunction

Spinal cord diorders

Peripheral nervous system

disorders

Autonomic nervous system

disorders

Cranial nerve disease

Tumors Infections

Common diseases

Degenerative disorders

• Alzheimer’s disease• Parkinson’s disease• Huntington’s disease

Neuro-oncology

Epilepsy

Vascular neurological disorders

SymptomsMost of neurological diseases have common

symptoms:• Loss of coordination or ability to speak

clearly• Tremors, rigid muscles, slowed motion • Difficulty swallowing• Loss of automatic movements such as

blinking, swinging the arms• Unconscious acts

These are only common symptoms, whereas in fact nervous system disorders may result in almost any symptoms

Figure 4. Diplopia – simultaneous perception of two images of a single objects, one of the symptoms of multiple scerosis.

Neurological examination and methods of diagnosis

Neurological examination assesses• motor and sensory skills• functioning of cranial nerves• hearing and vision• coordination and balance• mental status

For examination, neurologist may also use X-ray or fluoroscopy to observe vertebral structure or blood flow

Figure 5. The X-Ray image shows neck of a woman. The arrow indicates the vertebrate moved from normal position, resulting in headaches

Screening techniques

• Angiography• Biopsy• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis• Computed tomography• Electroencephalography• Electromyography• Magnetic resonance imaging• Positron emission tomography (PET)• Ultrasound

Screening techniques: cerebrospinal fluid analysis

• - the removal of a small amount of the fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord.

• Purpose:– detect any bleeding or brain hemorrhage– diagnose infection to the brain and/or spinal cord– identify some cases of multiple sclerosis – measure intracranial pressure.

Figure 6. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is performed using an anesthetic. Picture from A.D.A.M. encyclopedia

Electroencephalography• monitors brain activity through the

skull• Purpose is to diagnose:– seizure disorders– brain tumors– brain damage from head injuries– inflammation of the brain and/or

spinal cord– Psychiatric, metabolic and

degenerative disorders

Figure 7. Placement of censors during EEG. Picture from lifescript.com

Reference list• Norton Neuroscience Institute. 2010. Common Neurological

Disorders. http://www.nortonhealthcare.com/commonneurologicaldisorders (accessed December 12, 2011)

• Wood-Moen, R. 2011. Common Neurological Disorders. http://www.livestrong.com/article/98547-common-neurological-disorders/ (accessed December 12, 2011)

• Hirtz, D., Thurman, D.J., Gwinn-Hardy, K., Mohamed, M., Chaudhuri, R, and A.R., Zalutsky R. 2011. How common are the “common” neurological disorders? Neurology Journal http://www.neurology.org/content/68/5/326.abstract