Surgical Questions and Answers

Free Medical and Surgical Questions And Answers

1. What are the five main causes of a space-occupying intracranial lesion?

Correct answer:

(1) Haemorrhage
(a) extradural;
(b) subdural, acute or chronic;
(c) intracerebral.

(2) Tumour.
(3) Hydrocephalus.
(4) Brain swelling (oedema), e.g. head injury, encephalitis.
(5) Cerebral abscess. Other causes are rare and include hydatid cysts, tuberculoma and gumma.