Microcephaly & Hydrocephalus MCQ Quiz | Central Nervous System

1. A newborn is diagnosed with microcephaly, defined as a head circumference more than two standard deviations below the mean. Which of the following is a well-established infectious cause of congenital microcephaly, particularly known for causing widespread outbreaks?

2. What is the most common cause of congenital obstructive hydrocephalus?

3. The “setting-sun” sign in an infant with hydrocephalus is caused by:

4. Which of the following is NOT a component of the classic Hakim’s triad for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)?

5. Primary microcephaly is most often associated with:

6. A ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a common treatment for hydrocephalus. Which of the following is the most common complication of this procedure?

7. Communicating hydrocephalus is characterized by:

8. Which TORCH infection is most classically associated with hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, and intracranial calcifications?

9. Macewen’s sign, or the “cracked pot” sound upon percussion of an infant’s skull, is indicative of:

10. Secondary microcephaly (microcephalia vera) implies that:

11. A lumbar puncture is performed on a patient suspected of having hydrocephalus. In which type of hydrocephalus would this procedure be potentially dangerous and contraindicated?

12. An MRI of a patient with hydrocephalus shows enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles, but the fourth ventricle is of normal size. This finding points to an obstruction at the level of the:

13. Phenylketonuria (PKU), if untreated in the mother, can lead to a syndrome in the infant that includes microcephaly, intellectual disability, and congenital heart defects. This is an example of:

14. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) is a surgical alternative to shunting for which type of hydrocephalus?

15. “Hydrocephalus ex vacuo” refers to ventricular enlargement that occurs due to:

16. The Dandy-Walker malformation is characterized by a triad of findings. Which of the following is NOT part of this triad?

17. In the context of microcephaly, what does a “sloping forehead” typically suggest?

18. A major risk factor for developing communicating hydrocephalus in an adult is a prior history of:

19. Which imaging modality is preferred for the initial evaluation of suspected hydrocephalus in a neonate with an open anterior fontanelle?

20. Arnold-Chiari Type II malformation, a common cause of hydrocephalus, is almost invariably associated with which other condition?

21. A patient with a VP shunt presents with headache, nausea, and lethargy. A “shunt series” X-ray is ordered to check for:

22. Microcephaly associated with craniosynostosis (premature fusion of cranial sutures) differs from primary microcephaly in that:

23. In hydrocephalus, CSF is primarily produced by the:

24. What is the pathognomonic feature of gait disturbance in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)?

25. A definitive diagnosis and prognostic indicator for treatment response in NPH can be obtained through: