1000+ Basics of Neurology Multiple Choice Question Answer [Solved]

1. Topic: Intracranial Hemorrhage
Subject: Medicine
The most significant risk factor for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is:
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Cigarette smoking
C. Excessive alcohol use
D. Hypertension
Answer : D

2. Topic: MMSE
Subject: Medicine
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) tests for:
A. Mood
B. Behavior
C. Intelligence quotient
D. Cognitive function
Answer : D

3. Topic: Peripheral Neuropathy
Subject: Medicine
A 68-year-old male presents to your department complaining of a very horrible sensation in his legs that started out 4 weeks ago as pins and needles tickling him but now has progressed and feels like being stabbed in his feet. He has started to use a walker because he feels that when he walks it feels like stepping on eggshells. The pain has not been responsive to acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The patients past medical history is significant for diabetes type II treated with metformin and glimepiride. The patient has not been very compliant with medications, especially metformin because he feels it causes him an upset stomach. His most recent HbA1C level was 9.8%. He also has hypercholesterolemia treated with lovastatin and hypertension treated with Lisinopril and amlodipine. His vital signs are temperature 37.4°C, BP is 125/70 mmHg, pulse 85/min, and respirations 15/min. The dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses are +2 bilaterally. No distal muscles weakness or atrophy is observed. Manual esthesiometer with monofilaments is used and reveals decreased sensation from the midfoot distally on both feet. There is no evidence of erythema, edema, or any wounds on either foot. He has tenderness to light touch on both feet. Labs reveal normal Vitamin B12 and thyroid function.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate treatment for this patients pain?
A. Daily metformin compliance
B. Metoclopramide
C. Pregabalin
D. Alpha lipoic acid
Answer : C

4. Topic: Seizure
Subject: Medicine
Of the following, which is the most frequent cause of seizures in the elderly?
A. Alcohol withdrawal
B. Stroke
C. Head trauma
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer : B

5. Topic: Tension headache.
Subject: Medicine
A woman presents with chief complaint of tightening, band-like headaches that usually occur upon rising in the morning. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Migraine headache
B. Premenstrual headache
C. Tension headache
D. Cluster headache
Answer : C

6. Topic: Horner's Syndrome
Subject: Medicine
A 70-year-old man presented with ptosis, myosis and anhydrosis on the left side. Which one of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
A. Tumour induced exophthalmos
B. Fourth cranial nerve palsy
C. Apical pulmonary carcinoma
D. Enlarged thyroid gland
Answer : C

7. Topic: Horner's Syndrome
Subject: Medicine
A 54-year-old white male presents with drooping of his right eyelid for 3 weeks. On examination, he has ptosis of the right upper lid, miosis of the right pupil, and decreased sweating on the right side of his face. Extraocular muscle movements are intact. In addition to a complete history and physical examination, which one of the following would be most appropriate at this point?
A. A chest radiograph
B. MRI of the brain and orbits
C. 131 Iodine thyroid scanning
D. A fasting blood glucose level
Answer : A

8. Topic: Brain Death
Subject: Medicine
A 30 year old man has been on life support systems for the past 48 hours following blunt head trauma. Brain death cannot be established in this patient if there is the presence of which of the following?
A. Carotid blood flow
B. Cremasteric reflexes
C. Elevated serum aminoglycoside concentrations
D. Hypothermia
Answer : D

9. Topic: Alzheimer's Disease
Subject: Medicine
Which one of the following is most predictive of the progression from mild cognitive impairment to frank Alzheimers dementia?
A. Self-reported memory deficits
B. Memory deficits reported by a family member
C. A normal MRI scan of the brain
D. The absence of the apolipoprotein E4 allele
Answer : B

10. Topic: Foot Drop
Subject: Medicine
During the physical exam of a patients foot, you notice an inability to dorsiflex. What nerve root(s) is most likely affected?
A. T12
B. L1
C. L2
D. L4 - L5
Answer : E

11. Topic: Adverse Drug Effect
Subject: Medicine
Which one of the following is most associated with falls in older adults?
A. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
B. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
C. Metformin (Glucophage)
D. Memantine (Namenda)
Answer : A

12. Topic: Dementia
Subject: Medicine
An 85 year old white male is brought to you for the first time by his son. The father has recently seen a neurologist who performed a workup for dementia and diagnosed moderate Alzheimers disease. Which one of the following is true regarding the use of a cholinesterase inhibitor in this patient?
A. It is too late to initiate cholinesterase therapy
B. Agitation is often intensified by these agents
C. Memory is likely to improve significantly
D. Nursing-home placement may be delayed a year or longer
Answer : D

13. Topic: Seizure
Subject: Medicine
A 36-year-old male with a history of a seizure disorder is brought to the emergency department with generalized tonic-clonic activity. Emergency medical personnel report this has been ongoing for 20 minutes.
After initial resuscitative measures, the preferred medication in this situation is:
A. Phenytoin (Dilantin)
B. Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
C. Naloxone
D. Lorazepam (Ativan)
Answer : D

14. Topic: Bell's Palsy
Subject: Medicine
A 53-year-old male accounant comes to your office with progressive facial weakness on the left side that began yesterday. He also reports pain behind the left ear and decreased lacrimation from the left eye. He has been in good health and had his yearly physical examination 1 week ago, which was normal. His lipid levels, chemistry profile, and CBC were all normal. He has not been involved in any outdoor activities, nor does he engage in any high-risk sexual behavior. On examination, there is flattening of the left nasolabial fold and decreased ability to close the left eye. The mouth appears to be drawn to the right. The remainder of his general examination and neurologic examination are normal.
Which one of the following would be the most appropriate management at this time?
A. Carotid ultrasonography
B. High-resolution CT
C. MRI with gadolinium enhancement
D. Prednisone and valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Answer : D

15. Topic: Analgesics
Subject: Medicine
A 74-year-old black female has moderately severe pain due to osteoarthritis. However, she is also on medication for a seizure disorder. When choosing medications to manage her chronic pain, which one of the following should be used with caution because of her history of seizures?
A. Salsalate (Disalcid)
B. Celecoxib (Celebrex)
C. Hydrocodone (Lortab)
D. Tramadol (Ultram)
Answer : D

16. Topic: Postherpetic Neuralgia
Subject: Medicine
When given during acute herpes zoster (varicella) infection, which one of the following drugs has been shown to reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia?
A. Imipramine (Tofranil)
B. Capsaicin (Zostrix)
C. Amitriptyline
D. Acyclovir (Zovirax)
Answer : D

17. Topic: Horner's Syndrome
Subject: Medicine
A 66-year-old diabetic man presents with constriction of the pupil, drooping of the upper lid, and anhidrosis on the left. Which one of the following nerves is most likely involved?
A. Oculomotor
B. Sympathetic
C. Trochlear
D. Trigeminal
Answer : B

18. Topic: Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Subject: Medicine
An 81-year-old female is brought to your office by her son. He reports a decrease in his mothers memory and prolonged delays in her responses to questions. She also has developed urinary incontinence. MRI shows dilated ventricles, but no other pathology, and a lumbar puncture reveals a normal opening pressure.
Which one of the following would provide additional evidence of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
A. Monocular visual loss
B. Internuclear ophthalmoplegia
C. Headache
D. Apraxia of gait
Answer : D

19. Topic: Alzheimer's Disease
Subject: Medicine
Which one of the following is associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease?
A. A positive homozygous genotype for apolipoprotein E4
B. Elevated serum aluminum
C. Elevated serum alpha-tocopherol
D. Decreased serum Beta-carotene
Answer : A

20. Topic: Seizure
Subject: Medicine
A 75-year-old male is brought to your office 1 month after a stroke that involved the left anterior cerebral artery, manifested by leg weakness, initial incontinence, and slowness in mentation. He experienced seizure activity on the second day after his stroke, but this was controlled by phenytoin (Dilantin). He has improved significantly and is now ambulatory. His family states that he now has episodic confusion, sleepiness, and clumsiness, which is preceded by paresthesias and dizziness, although no tonicclonic activity has been noted. He remains very drowsy for several hours after these episodes. He was wearing a cardiac monitor during one episode, but it showed nothing remarkable. His phenytoin level is therapeutic, and a CBC, metabolic profile, and magnesium level are all normal.
Which one of the following would be the most appropriate next step?
A. Discontinue the phenytoin
B. Add phenobarbital to the phenytoin
C. Begin bupropion (Wellbutrin)
D. Begin lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Answer : D

21. Topic: Osmotic Demyelination
Subject: Medicine
Osmotic demyelination can result when which one of the following is corrected too rapidly?
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypomagnesemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer : D

22. Topic: Seizure
Subject: Medicine
A 52-year-old male with a history of seizure attacks suffered from loss of consciousness and tonic-clonic muscular contractions. His tongue fell back into his throat and he choked.
What is the medication of choice for the treatment of this patient's condition?
A. Phenytoin
B. Valproic acid
C. Tiagabine
D. Phenobarbital
Answer : B

23. Topic: Mini Mental Status Exam (or MMSE)
Subject: Medicine
In healthy adults, performance on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination is affected by which one of the following?
A. Educational attainment
B. Socioeconomic status
C. Gender
D. Race
Answer : A

24. Topic: Huntington Chorea
Subject: Medicine
A patient previously diagnosed with Huntington chorea (HC) comes for a family planning consult with his wife. He states that his father had the disease and his mother was unaffected. They ask you what is the likelihood having a son with this condition?
A. Zero
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 75%
Answer : B

25. Topic: Neurologic pain
Subject: Medicine
A 21-year-old man presented to the emergency hospital with severe abdominal pain. The pain started four hour ago. His medical history reveals Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP) and he used to have frequent attacks of abdominal pain and believes that this attack is no different. On examination, the patient is in acute pain and slightly feverish but not pale, jaundiced or cyanosed. However, his blood pressure is found to be high and he has tachycardia.
You should consider a diagnosis other than an AIP attack if the pain is associated with:
A. Constipation
B. Tenderness
C. Abdominal distension
D. Decreased bowel sounds
Answer : B

26. Topic: Diagnostic Investigations
Subject: Medicine
A 52 year old male with a history of psychosis presents with muscle stiffness and resting tremors, associated with difficulty in balance and initiating movements. hat is the best diagnostic method for detection of the above condition?
A. Serum dopamine levels
B. Computed tomography scan
C. Positron emission tomography scan
D. Magnetic resonance imaging
Answer : C

27. Topic: Cholinergic Toxidrome
Subject: Medicine
A 37 year old male arrives at the Emergency Department unconscious. He is warm and sweaty. His heart rate is 52 bpm, his BP is 90/60. His pupils are constricted, his eyes are teary, and he is drooling. You assume he is suffering from a toxidrome.
What antidote will you give him?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Glucagon
D. Atropine
Answer : D

28. Topic: Alzheimer's Disease
Subject: Medicine
Which one of the following has NOT been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer-type dementia (AD)?
A. Trisomy 18
B. Head trauma
C. Advanced age
D. Obesity and hypertension
Answer : A

29. Topic: Postherpetic Neuralgia
Subject: Medicine
A 78-year-old male comes to your office with a 3- day history of pain in the right side of his chest. The pain is described as burning and intense. Two days ago he noted a rash at that site. Examination reveals groups of vesicles on an erythematous base in a T-5 dermatome distribution on the right.
Which one of the following would be the most appropriate treatment to minimize the chance of post-herpetic neuralgia?
A. Famiciclovir (Famvir)
B. Prednisone
C. Capsaicin (Zostrix)
D. Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Answer : A

30. Topic: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subject: Medicine
A 25-year-old male presents 5 hours after the onset of the worst headache of my life. His temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg, respiratory rate 20/min, and pulse rate 90 beats/min. The patient is lethargic but oriented; there are no focal neurologic findings, but neck stiffness is present. Unenhanced CT of the head is negative. You elect to perform a lumbar puncture. At this time, which one of the following findings in bloody spinal fluid would indicate a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
A. Yellow-orange cerebrospinal fluid supernatant
B. A WBC:RBC ratio of 1/1000
C. A protein (g/L) to RBC (count/L) of 1/1000
D. A glucose level below 2.2 mmol/L
Answer : A

31. Topic: Temporal Arteritis
Subject: Medicine
A 75-year-old female presents with a 2-month history of bilateral headache, diffuse myalgias, and diplopia. On examination she has substantially diminished vision in her left eye, but no other neurologic findings. A moderately tender, cordlike structure is palpable just anterior to her ear and extending up to her lateral scalp. Blood tests show a markedly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Which one of the following would be most appropriate at this point?
A. Clopidogrel (Plavix)
B. High-dose corticosteroids
C. NSAIDs
D. Dipyridamole/aspirin (Aggrenox)
Answer : B

32. Topic: Brown-Sequard Syndrome
Subject: Medicine
Which of the following would not be expected in a right-sided Brown-S�quard syndrome?
A. Right-sided hemi-paresis
B. Right-sided loss of proprioception
C. Left-sided decreased sensitivity to pinprick
D. Left-sided decreased vibration sense
Answer : D

33. Topic: Dementia
Subject: Medicine
Clinical features of multi-infarct dementia may include all of the following, except:
A. Parkinsonism
B. Deteriorating course
C. Evidence of cerebrovascular disease
D. Focal neurologic signs
Answer : A

34. Topic: Fragile X Syndrome
Subject: Medicine
You are asked to see a mentally challenged 45-yearold male from a nearby group home who has groin pain. On examination you notice that he has large ears, a prominent jaw, and large symmetric testicles.
These findings are consistent with:
A. A variant form of Down syndrome
B. Aspergers syndrome
C. Klinefelters syndrome
D. Fragile X syndrome
Answer : D

35. Topic: Adverse Drug Effect
Subject: Medicine
A 68-year-old man with a history of urolithiasis, suffered from a seizure attack which involved loss of consciousness with tonic and clonic muscular contractions. His tongue fell back into his throat and he choked. He is treated with valproic acid.
What are the most common side effects caused by this medication?
A. Weight gain
B. Rash
C. Nausea and headache
D. Tardive dyskinesia
Answer : C

36. Topic: Trigeminal Neuralgia
Subject: Medicine
A man complains that recently when he shaves he has a shooting type of pain in his face. It happens once in a while and then goes away. You suspect trigeminal neuralgia.
What is the treatment of choice?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Prednisone
C. Acyclovir
D. Carbamazepine
Answer : D

37. Topic: Essential Tremor
Subject: Medicine
A 75 year old white male complains of a tremor which has been progressive over the past 2 years. The tremor interferes with writing, pouring liquids, and eating soup. He has no other medical problems. He abstains from alcohol and tobacco products. Physical examination is remarkable for an action tremor of the upper extremities and a head tremor. No rigidity or gait disorder is noted. Of the following agents, which one is most appropriate as initial drug therapy for this problem?
A. Alprazolam (Xanax)
B. Clonazepam (Klonopin)
C. Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
D. Propranolol (Inderal)
Answer : D

38. Topic: Amnesia
Subject: Medicine
Which of the following medications may cause amnesia as a side effect?
A. Hydroxyzine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Triazolam
D. Clonidine
Answer : C

39. Topic: Glasgow Coma Scale
Subject: Medicine
A 27 year old man is brought into the ER after a bicycling accident. A car door suddenly opened in front of him, of which he smashed into and was thrown 15 feet. On examination, he is drowsy and confused. He opens his eyes when his name is called. When he speaks, you understand his words but the sentences do not make sense. He moves all four limbs but does not respond to any commands. He is abe to pull both hands away when pinched and squirms when his sternum is rubbed, making no effort to stop you.
What is his Glasgow Coma Scale score?
A. 11
B. 10
C. 9
D. 8
Answer : B

40. Topic: Brain Death
Subject: Medicine
A 57-year-old white male with coronary artery disease suffered a cardiac arrest while jogging 10 days ago. He was resuscitated after 45 minutes but has remained unresponsive and on a ventilator since then.
Which one of the following is required to diagnose brain death in this patient?
A. Hypothermia
B. Continuous mechanical ventilation
C. The absence of spontaneous body movements
D. Electroencephalographic confirmation
Answer : D

41. Topic: Status Epilepticus
Subject: Medicine
A 58-year-old male with a history of seizure attacks suffered from a 30 min loss of consciousness with repetitive seizures with no recovery of consciousness between attacks. What is the disorder this patient is suffering from?
A. Tonic-clonic seizure
B. Absence seizure
C. Atonic seizure
D. Status epilepticus
Answer : D

42. Topic: Temporal Arteritis
Subject: Medicine
A female patient complains of a severe headache and jaw pain when she chews. She also complains of shoulder pain and bilateral wrist weakness. Initial lab tests show an ESR of 75 (normal is less than 30).
What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
A. Rheumatoid Arthritis
B. Temporal Arteritis
C. Polymyositis
D. Sarcoidosis
Answer : B

43. Topic: Dementia
Subject: Medicine
All of the following dementias can benefit from specific treatments, except:
A. Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
B. Alzheimers disease
C. Sarcoidosis
D. Creutzfeldt Jakob disease
Answer : D

44. Topic: Seizure
Subject: Medicine
A 52-year-old man with a history of seizure attacks suffered from loss of consciousness and tonic and clonic muscular contractions. His tongue fell back into his throat and he choked. What is the best diagnostic test for assessment of the presenting condition of this patient?
A. X-rays
B. CT-Scan
C. Electroencephalogram
D. Discography
Answer : C

45. Topic: Temporal Lobe Lesion
Subject: Medicine
A 40 year old man presents with sporadically occurring behaviour automatisms and olfactory hallucinations. Which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Schizophrenia
B. Schizophreniform psychosis
C. Hysterical personality disorder
D. Temporal lobe lesion
Answer : D

46. Topic: Status Epilepticus
Subject: Medicine
A 58-year-old male with a history of seizure attacks suffered from a 30min loss of consciousness with repetitive seizures with no recovery of consciousness between attacks. What is the best initial treatment for his condition?
A. Lorazepam
B. Phenytoin
C. Phenobarbital
D. Carbamazepine
Answer : A

47. Topic: Delirium Tremens
Subject: Medicine
You see a 49-year-old man in the emergency room with a 20-year-history of alcohol abuse. He is agitated and floridly psychotic, with visual hallucinations and persecutory delusions. On examination his blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate are all increased. He is disoriented, sweaty, and has abdominal cramps.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Alcohol intoxication
C. Hepatic encephalopathy
D. Delirium tremens
Answer : D

48. Topic: Seizure
Subject: Medicine
A 68-year-old man with a history of urolithiasis, suffered from a seizure attack which involved loss of consciousness with tonic and clonic muscular contractions. His tongue fell back into his throat and he choked.
Which of the following medications is contraindicated in this patient's treatment?
A. Levetiracetam
B. Phenytoin
C. Topiramate
D. Carbamazepine
Answer : C

49. Topic: Organophosphate poisoning
Subject: Medicine
What is the mechanism of action in organophosphate poisoning?
A. Cholinesterase inhibition
B. Cholinesterase activation
C. Catecholamine inhibition
D. Catecholamine activation
Answer : A

50. Topic: Horner's Syndrome
Subject: Medicine
A 70-year-old man presented with ptosis, myosis and anhydrosis on the left side. Which one of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
A. Tumour induced exophthalmos
B. Fourth cranial nerve palsy
C. Apical pulmonary carcinoma
D. Enlarged thyroid gland
Answer : C