Bullet list of topics and items that are likely to appear on the neurological surgery boards.

Neurobiology

- Mechanism of botulinum toxin: prevents presynaptic release of acetylcholine
- Mechanism of temozolomide: methylates guanine at O6 position
- Highest concentration of norepinephrine in the CNS: locus ceruleus

Neuroanatomy

- Bony septum that separates the facial nerve from the superior vestibular nerve in the internal auditory canal: Bill’s bar

Neurology

- Disorder of phytanic acid metabolism: Refsum’s disease
- Most common nerve affected in neurosarcoidosis: facial nerve
- CADASIL mutation: NOTCH3

Neuropathology

- Pseudopallisading necrosis: GBM
- Physalliferous cells: chordoma
- Binucleated neurons: ganglioglioma
- Fried-egg cells, delicate “chickenwire” capillaries: oligodendroglioma
- Normal neurons “floating” in eosinophillic matrix: DNET
- Homer-Wright rosettes: PNET
- Perivascular pseudorosette: ependymoma

Neuroradiology

- DWI in abscess vs. tumor: bright in abscess, dark in tumor

Neurosurgery

Critical Care

- Pulsus paradoxus: cardiac tamponade