Cerebrovascular accident

Cerebrovascular accident, abbreviated CVA, is a common neurologic pathology. It is also known as a stroke.

General

• Very common.
• Leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
• Etiology varies.
  • Often atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels or internal carotid artery.
  • Other causes: ruptured berry aneurysm, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, tumour.

Clinical classification:

1. Hemorrhagic stroke.
2. Ischemic stroke.

Gross

• Soft/mushy brain.
• Older infarcts.
  • A "roof" is present - a thin submeningeal layer is preserved by the CSF.
    • "Roof" is absent in trauma.
  • Cavity - in older infarcts.
    • Multiple sclerosis does not cavitate.
• Laminar necrosis = (thin) chalky line replaces grey mater.
  • AKA pseudolaminar necrosis - as it is not localized to a specific layer of the cortex.

DDx:

• Cerebral contusion.

Microscopic

Features:

• Ischemic neurons.
• +/-Neuronal loss.
• +/-Microglial.
• +/-Thrombosis.
• +/-Atherosclerosis.

See also

• Neuropathology.