A 60-year-old man comes to the emergency department with right-side body weakness and slurred speech. His medical problems include type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. He takes atorvastatin, metformin, lisinopril, and low-dose aspirin. The patient has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for the past 40 years. His temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg, and pulse is 118/min. He is mildly dysarthric with a right lower facial droop and right-sided hemiparesis. Brain Imaging reveals an acute subcortical infarct in the left internal capsule. Which of the following is most likely to be seen in the affected brain area in the subsequent weeks?

Question

A 60-year-old man comes to the emergency department with right-side body weakness and slurred speech. His medical problems include type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.  He takes atorvastatin, metformin, lisinopril, and low-dose aspirin.  The patient has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for the past 40 years.  His temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg, and pulse is 118/min.  He is mildly dysarthric with a right lower facial droop and right-sided hemiparesis.  Brain Imaging reveals an acute subcortical infarct in the left internal capsule. Which of the following is most likely to be seen in the affected brain area in the subsequent weeks?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: CNS injury is associated with astrocyte hypertrophy and proliferation (gliosis).  This process leads to the formation of a glial scar, which compensates for the volume loss that occurs after neuronal death.

A 60-Year-Old Man Comes to the Emergency Department with Right-Side