gi cancer Flashcards
what are the two types of oesophageal cancer?
- adenocarcinomas
- squamous cell carcinoma
where do adenocarcinomas occur?
- lower 2/3 of oesophagus
where do squamous cell carcinomas occur?
- upper 2/3 of oesophagus
what are the risk factors for adenocarcinomas?
- barretts oesophagus
- obesity
who is more likely to get adenocarcinomas?
- males
- 60-70
what are the risk factors for squamous cell carcinomas?
- smoking
- alcohol
- nitrous amines
who is more likely to get squamous cell carcinomas?
males
60 - 70
describe the pathology behind oesophageal cancers
- oesophagus lined by squamous epithelium
- stomach lines by columnar glandular epithelium
- oesophagus epithelium undergoes metaplasia to stomach epithelium
what are the early symptoms for oesophogeal cancers?
no symptoms
only presents when advanced
what are the later symptoms for oesophageal cancers?
Anaemia
Loss of weight
Anorexia
Recent sudden symptoms worsen
Melena/ haematemesis
Swallowing progressive difficulty
( if swallowing is NON progressive then suggests achalasia)
REMEMBER IT USING ALARMS
What is melena?
passage of black tarry stools
how are oesophageal cancers diagnosed?
-OGD (oesophago Gastro Duodenoscopy - basically endoscopy) + biopsy
- with barium swallow
-CT/PET
-for staging
how are oesophageal cancers treated?
-if medically fit- chemo/ radio + surgery
- if unfit- palliative care
what are gastric cancers?
stomach cancers
what are most gastric cancers?
adenocarcinomas ( 95%)
what do most gastric cancers involve?
most involve pyloris of stomach