Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

What is a common condition assessed with MRI in the cerebellopontine angle?

1. Multiple sclerosis

2. Acoustic neuroma

3. Alzheimer's disease

4. Parkinson's disease

The correct answer is: Acoustic neuroma

The cerebellopontine angle is a region located at the junction of the cerebellum and the pons in the brain, and it is a common site for certain pathological conditions. Acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumor that arises from the Schwann cells of the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII) in this area. The characteristic location of the tumor within the cerebellopontine angle, along with its potential to compress neighboring cranial nerves and structures, makes MRI the ideal imaging modality for its diagnosis. MRI is highly effective for visualizing soft tissue and can reveal the presence of an acoustic neuroma as a well-defined mass in the cerebellopontine angle. The imaging allows for assessment of the size of the tumor, its relationship to adjacent structures, and any associated changes, such as edema or obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways. In contrast, while multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder that can be assessed with MRI, it does not typically present specifically in the cerebellopontine angle. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are neurodegenerative disorders primarily affecting different regions of the brain and are not specifically localized to the cerebellopontine