Question

A 78-year-old woman presents with a progressive decline in daily activity. She gives a history of convulsions and visual hallucinations. She does not talk to anyone and keeps looking at the sky. Pathological examination shows the presence of Lewy bodies within the neurons. What is the most probable diagnosis?

• A. Parkinson's disease
• B. Prion disease
• C. Huntington's chorea
• D. Alzheimer's disease

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The clinical presentation and pathological findings strongly suggest a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. This condition can present with symptoms such as progressive decline in daily activities, convulsions, visual hallucinations, social withdrawal, and looking up at the sky, implying altered mental status or hallucinations. The presence of Lewy bodies within the neurons, which are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease and thus supports this diagnosis. While Lewy bodies can also be present in Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), the specific symptomatology described aligns more closely with Parkinson's, given the prominence of motor symptoms typically seen in such patients. Therefore, considering the symptoms and pathological findings, the most probable diagnosis for the 78-year-old woman in this scenario is Parkinson's disease.