USMLE® Step 2 CK · chapter NEURO

Neurology & Special Senses: USMLE® Step 2 CK topics

26 topics. Each one opens a review page with its guideline basis and key clinical sections, then links the QuestionBank questions, ChartWalk flowchart, FlashCards and ImageBank plates that share its code.

1. Acute ischemic stroke — tPA & thrombectomy eligibility

   NEURO-STROKE-0248 questions · Review Book p. 575 · 2026 AHA/ASA Guideline for the Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke (supersedes 2019 update)

2. Acute vision loss — glaucoma, detachment, CRAO

   NEURO-OPH-0114 questions · Review Book p. 607 · 2026 AAO Preferred Practice Pattern Primary Angle-Closure Disease; Retinal and Ophthalmic Artery Occlusions (2019/2024); Posterior Vitreous Detachment, Retinal Breaks, and Lattice Degeneration (2019); 2021 AHA/ASA Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Statement

3. Chronic eye disease — AMD, cataracts, retinopathy, glaucoma

   NEURO-OPH-024 questions · Review Book p. 609 · 2020 AAO Preferred Practice Pattern Diabetic Retinopathy; 2025 AAO Preferred Practice Pattern Age-Related Macular Degeneration

4. CNS infections — meningitis & encephalitis

   NEURO-INF-0129 questions · Review Book p. 603 · 2025 WHO Meningitis; NICE NG195; IDSA Encephalitis; current CDC Contact Prophylaxis

5. Concussion, TBI & return-to-play protocol

   NEURO-TBI-013 questions · Review Book p. 605 · 2022 Amsterdam Consensus (published 2023); 2024 NCS; CCHR and PECARN

6. Delirium — recognition & inpatient management

   NEURO-DEL-0185 questions · Review Book p. 591 · SCCM PADIS (2018) + Focused Update (2025); NICE CG103 (2023 assessment update).

7. Dementia — subtypes, workup & management

   NEURO-DEM-0173 questions · Review Book p. 589 · Alzheimer Association DETeCD-ADRD (2024 online; 2025 print).

8. Guillain-Barré syndrome — recognition & treatment

   NEURO-NM-0210 questions · Review Book p. 598 · EAN/PNS GBS Guideline (2023); EAN/PNS CIDP Guideline, 2nd revision (2021).

9. Headache syndromes — primary & secondary causes

   NEURO-HA-0124 questions · Review Book p. 583 · ICHD-3 (2018); AHS CGRP Position Statement (2024).

10. Hearing loss & vertigo — vestibular disorders

    NEURO-ENT-0211 questions · Review Book p. 612 · GRACE-3: Guidelines for Reasonable and Appropriate Care in the ED — Acute Dizziness and Vertigo (SAEM, 2023); AAO-HNS BPPV clinical practice guideline (CPG) (2017); AAO-HNS Ménière Disease CPG (2020); AAO-HNS Sudden Hearing Loss CPG (2019)

11. Increased ICP, hydrocephalus & brain death

    NEURO-ICP-0140 questions · Review Book p. 581 · 2016 Brain Trauma Foundation TBI Guidelines (4th ed, 2020 update); 2023 AAN/AAP/CNS/SCCM Brain Death Determination; 2015 AAN iNPH practice guideline

12. Intracranial hemorrhage — SAH, epidural, subdural

    NEURO-HEM-0131 questions · Review Book p. 579 · AHA/ASA Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Guideline 2022; AHA/ASA Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Guideline 2023.

13. Localizing the lesion — UMN/LMN signs & gait patterns

    NEURO-EXAM-0119 questions · Review Book p. 573 · Gold Coast ALS criteria 2020 (2022 diagnostic discussion); AAO-HNS Bell palsy 2013.

14. Movement disorders — Parkinson, tremor & drug-induced

    NEURO-MOVE-0130 questions · Review Book p. 592 · MDS Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson disease (PD) (2015); MDS evidence-based review of PD treatments (2018/2019); AAN Practice Guideline: Dopaminergic Therapy for Early PD (2021)

15. Multiple sclerosis — diagnosis, relapse & disease-modifying therapy (DMT)

    NEURO-DEMY-0123 questions · Review Book p. 594 · 2024 McDonald Diagnostic Criteria; AAN 2018 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Disease-Modifying Therapy Guideline

16. Myasthenia gravis & myasthenic vs cholinergic crisis

    NEURO-NM-0133 questions · Review Book p. 596 · International Consensus Guidance for MG: 2016 + 2020 Update (published 2021); ABN MG Guideline (2025).

17. Other rare neuro syndromes & sleep disorders

    NEURO-MISC-0142 questions · Review Book p. 613 · AASM International Classification of Sleep Disorders-3-TR (2023) Sleep Disorder Classification

18. Otitis media & sinusitis — diagnosis & treatment

    NEURO-ENT-0125 questions · Review Book p. 610 · AAP AOM guideline (2013; correction 2014).

19. Peripheral neuropathy & cranial nerve palsies

    NEURO-NM-037 questions · Review Book p. 600 · 2009 AAN Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy Evaluation Practice Parameter; 2012 AAN Bell Palsy Guideline update; 2013 AAO-HNS Bell Palsy Clinical Practice Guideline

20. Primary & metastatic brain tumors — recognition & next step

    NEURO-ONC-014 questions · Review Book p. 615 · NICE NG99 (2018; updated 2021).

21. Secondary stroke prevention & post-stroke care

    NEURO-STROKE-0327 questions · Review Book p. 578 · 2021 AHA/ASA Secondary Stroke Prevention

22. Seizure classification & antiepileptic drug selection

    NEURO-SZ-0172 questions · Review Book p. 585 · AES Treatment of Convulsive Status Epilepticus (2016); AAN/AES First Unprovoked Seizure in Adults (2015).

23. Spinal cord compression & cauda equina syndrome

    NEURO-SPINE-0136 questions · Review Book p. 601 · 2020 Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine Autonomic Dysreflexia Guidelines

24. Status epilepticus ladder & febrile seizures

    NEURO-SZ-0231 questions · Review Book p. 588 · AES Treatment of Convulsive Status Epilepticus (2016); NICE NG217 (updated Aug 2026).

25. Stroke syndromes by vascular territory

    NEURO-STROKE-0115 questions · Review Book p. 574 · 2026 AHA/ASA Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke

26. Wernicke-Korsakoff & thiamine-related encephalopathy

    NEURO-TOX-0118 questions · Review Book p. 604 · EFNS Wernicke Encephalopathy Guideline (2010); NICE CG100.

Written and clinically reviewed by TheCodexes.com (editorial policy). Guideline citations are the primary sources each topic follows.