Neurology · NEET PG Preparation Medicine
A 55-year-old chronic alcoholic man is brought to the emergency department in a confused state. Examination reveals ophthalmoparesis, horizontal nyst…
Practice question from Neurology (NEET PG Preparation Medicine), with the correct answer and a step-by-step solution.
medium · MCQ · Q-DC32F2
A 55-year-old chronic alcoholic man is brought to the emergency department in a confused state. Examination reveals ophthalmoparesis, horizontal nystagmus, severe ataxia of gait, and global confusional state with apathy. Which anatomical structure is most classically involved in the pathogenesis of this condition?
- A.Medial temporal lobes
- B.Mammillary bodies and periaqueductal gray matterCorrect answer
- C.Substantia nigra pars compacta
- D.Nucleus basalis of Meynert
Solution
This patient has Wernicke encephalopathy, caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. The classic triad includes ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and confusion. Pathologically, it involves lesions in the medial thalamus, mammillary bodies, periaqueductal gray matter, and floor of the fourth ventricle.
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