6. Dysphagia Flashcards
In a patient with dysphagia?
In a patient presenting with dysphagia,
In a patient presenting with dysphagia, why is a detailed drug history of particular importance?
What are the 4 main types of investigations for dysphagia and the indications for each of them?
What investigation is this and what is the pathology?
= Barium swallow showing a mid-esophageal stricture consistent with esophageal cancer.
What investigation is this and what is the pathology?
= Barium swallow showing extrinsic compression of the lower oesophagus by an extraluminal mass.
What investigation is this and what is the pathology?
= Barium swallow showing the classic ‘birds beak’ appearance of esophageal achalasia.
What investigation is this and what is the pathology?
= Barium swallow showing a pharyngeal pouch
What is Mrs Sweeney’s prognosis (adenocarcinoma of the esophagus)?
- Drugs: such as calcium channel blockers and/or nitrates may relax the lower esophageal sphincter sufficiently to produce relief of symptoms, but are often ineffective and are therefore not first line therapies. They are primarily reserved for patients unsuitable for surgery or dilatation who fail botox treatments.
What is Barrett’s esophagus? How common and how worrying is this condition?
List the risk factors of esophageal cancer:
- 8 Squamous cell carcinoma?
- 2 Adenocarcinoma?
What is Plummer-Vinson Syndrome?
What is the pathophysiology of Achalasia?
How can oesophageal cancer present? What are the most common symptoms?
= 5
