SAQ 1052 – Neurology – headache after bench pressing

A 45-year-old man presents with sudden severe occipital headache and neck pain that began while bench pressing five hours ago.

You suspect subarachnoid haemorrhage. CT brain is normal, but concern remains.

What are the sensitivity and specificity of third-generation CT for subarachnoid haemorrhage in this patient?

(Marked out of 2.0)

/ 2

List three factors that may reduce CT sensitivity for subarachnoid haemorrhage.

(Marked out of 3.0)

/ 3

Complete the table with one advantage and two disadvantages of lumbar puncture and CT angiography for assessing possible subarachnoid haemorrhage.

(Marked out of 6.0)
</p> <table class="saq-prop-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; max-width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;"> <thead> <tr> <th style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;">Investigation</th> <th style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;">Advantage</th> <th style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;">Two disadvantages</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;">Lumbar puncture</td> <td style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;"></td> <td style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;">CT angiography</td> <td style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;"></td> <td style="overflow-wrap: anywhere; word-break: normal; white-space: normal; vertical-align: top; box-sizing: border-box;"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>

/ 6

After lumbar puncture, what two CSF criteria, in addition to the normal CT, must be satisfied to reliably exclude subarachnoid haemorrhage?

(Marked out of 2.0)

/ 2

Total Score: 0 / 13

Percentage: 0%