Revision with a Short Quiz of 8 questions based on NEET PG Sample Questions on Epilepsy from Previous Year NEET PG Online Exams. Also very useful for students preparing for USMLE , PLAB, FMGE /MCI Screening Entrance Exams

1. 4/23/2015
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Q:1
A patient presented with short lasting episodic behavioural changes which include agitation
and dream like state with thrashing movements of his limbs. He does not recall these
episodes and has no apparent precipitating factor. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis?
A: Panic episodes
B: Schizophrenia
C: Temporal lobe epilepsy
D: Dissociative disorder
Correct Ans:C
Explanation
The patient in the question has most likely suffered an attack of temporal lobe epilepsy. The loss of
consciousness need not always be present but it is associated with loss of memory for the episode. In
temporal lobe seizure, the patient usually experiences auras or warning signs, epigastric discomfort, olfactory
hallucination, sensation of deja vu. A dream like state is often a feature of TLE. There may be loss of
consciousness abnormal movement of mouth, and rarely abnormal movement of body. Frontal lobe epilepsy
is also associated with episodes of agitation known as ‘intermittent explosive disorder’.
Ref: Clinical Neuroanatomy By Stephen G. Waxman, 26th Edition, Chapter 19
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
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Q:2 Gustatory hallucinations are most commonly associated with:
A: Temporal lobe epilepsy
B: Grand mal epilepsy
C: Anxiety disorders
D: Tobacco dependence
Correct Ans:A
Explanation
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is the epilepsy most commonly associated with gustatory hallucinations. This
syndrome produces seizures with visual, auditory, gustatory and visceral hallucinations.
Ictal gustatory hallucinations are the experience of a taste due to a focal seizure in the absence of an
environmental stimulus of the sensation. Common gustatory hallucinations includes metallic, rusty, bitter,
and salty tastes.
Ref: Atlas of Epilepsies, Volume 3 edited by S.R. Benbadis page 451.
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org
Q:3
At autopsy, a body is found to have copious fine leathery froth in mouth and nostrils which
increased on pressure over chest. Which of the following was the most likely cause of
death?
A: Epilepsy
B: Hanging
C: Drowning
D: Opium poisoning
Correct Ans:C
Explanation

2. 4/23/2015
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Presence of fine, white, leathery froth seen at the mouth and nostrils is one of the most characteristic
external signs of drowning. It is white or rarely blood stained, lather­like, abundant and increase in
amount with compression of chest. Even after wiping it gradually reappears, especially if pressure is
applied to the chest.
Froth is also seen in strangulation, acute pulmonary edema, electric shock, during epileptic fit, in
opium poisoning and putrefaction. But in all these cases the quantity of froth is not as large as in
drowning, and the bubbles are also much smaller.
Ref: Parikh’s Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 6th Edition,
Pages 3.66­3.67 ; Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology By Dr K S Narayan Reddy, 27th
Edition, Pages 325­6
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org
Q:4 Corpus callosotomy is useful in treatment of:
A: Epilepsy
B: Stroke
C: Alzheimer’s disease
D: none of the above
Correct Ans:A
Explanation
Patients with generalized seizures, atonic seizures associated with drop attacks, or absence seizures, who are
found to have bilaterally coordinated pathologic cortical discharges on EEG and who fail AED therapy, may be
candidates for corpus callosotomy. The corpus callosum is a large white matter tract that connects the
cerebral hemispheres.
Loss of consciousness requires simultaneous seizure activity in both hemispheres. Focal or partial seizures
may spread via the corpus callosum to the contralateral hemisphere, causing generalization and loss of
consciousness. Division of the corpus callosum can interrupt this spread.
Ref: Schwartz’s principle of surgery 9th edition, chapter 42.
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org
Q:5
All of the following factors are associated with a substantially greater risk of developing
epilepsy after febrile seizures, except:
A: Complex Febrile seizures
B: Early age of onset
C: Developmental abnormalities
D: Positive family History of Epilepsy
Correct Ans:B
Explanation
Factors increasing risk of epilepsy after febrile seizures include family history of epilepsy, a typical
seizures/complex nature of seizures and presence of a neurodevelopmental abnormality.
Early age on onset increases the risk of recurrence of febrile convulsions.
Ref: Febrile Seizures By Tallie Z. Baram, Shlomo Shinnar, Page 63; Essential of Pediatrics By O P Ghai, 6th
Edition, Page 509
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such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org

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Q:6
An adolescent is brought to the emergency department following an episode of myoclonic
jerks at morning after waking up. His consciousness was not impaired. His EEG shows
generalized 3­4 Hz spike and slow wave complexes. Most probable diagnosis is?
A: Generalized tonic clonic seizure
B: Absent seizure
C: Temporal lobe epilepsy
D: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
Correct Ans:D
Explanation
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is a subtype of idiopathic generalized epilepsy with onset usually between 8
and 20 years of age. Myoclonic jerks, especially in the morning, are of variable intensity ranging from simple
twitching (“flying saucer syndrome”) to falls; consciousness is not impaired in it. It is precipitated by alcohol
and sleep deprivation. Patients will have normal intelligence. The typical interictal EEG abnormality consists of
a generalized 4­ to 6­Hz spike or polyspike and slow­wave discharges lasting 1­20 seconds. Usually, 1­3 spikes
precede each slow wave.
Also know:
In Generalized tonic clonic seizure EEG shows a normal background with generalized epileptiform
discharges such as spike or polyspike wave complexes at 2.5 to 4 Hz.
During absence seizures there is an abrupt onset of bilaterally synchronous and symmetrical 3 Hz
spike­wave discharge, irrespective of whether typical absences are simple or complex.
Ictal recordings from patients with typical temporal lobe epilepsy usually exhibit 5­7 Hz, rhythmic,
sharp theta activity, maximal in the sphenoidal and the basal temporal electrodes on the side of seizure
origin.
Ref: A­Z of Neurological Practice: A Guide to Clinical Neurology By Andrew J. Larner, Alasdair J Coles, Neil J.
Scolding, Roger A Barker, 2011, Page 368 ; Clinical Electroencephalography by Misra,2005, Page 188
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org
Q:7 Which of the following statements is incorrect in relation to pregnant women with epilepsy?
A: The rate of congenital malformation is increased in the offspring of women with epilepsy
B: Seizure frequency increases in approximately 70% of women
C: Breast feeding is safe with most anticonvulsants
D: Folic acid supplementation may reduce the risk of neural tube defect
Correct Ans:B
Explanation
Frequency of convulsions is unchanged in majority.
Ref:Textbook of Gynecology By D C Dutta, 6th Edition, Page 298; Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine,
16th Edition, Page 2371
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org
Q:8 Triad of Tuberous Sclerosis includes all, except:
A: Epilepsy
B: Low intelligence
C: Hydrocephalus

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D: Adenoma sebaceum
Correct Ans:C
Explanation
Diagnostic triad of Tuberous sclerosis includes epilepsy, mental retardation and adenoma sebaceum (facial
angiofibroma).
Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant disorder which result from mutations in either the TSC1
gene encoding hamartin or the TSC2 gene encoding tuberin. Hamartin and tubulin form a complex which
negatively regulate cell growth and proliferation through inhibition of mTOR.
Ref: Harrison’s Internal Medicine, 18th Edition, Chapter 284; The 5­Minute Neurology Consult By D. Joanne
Lynn, Page 430; Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Genes, Clinical Features and Therapeutics By David J.
Kwiatkowsk, Page 221
Sample Questions on Epilepsy for NEET PG, USMLE, PLAB, FMGE, MCI Screening. For more
such question please download our free apps at www.medicoapps.org