Oesophageal carcinoma Flashcards
1
Q
What is the incidence of oesophageal carcinoma?
A
Incidence of 8919 cases in 2014, 2% of all cancers
2
Q
What is the pathology of oesophageal carcinoma?
A
- Squamous cell dysplasia → atypical large nuclei, ↑ mitosis
- Plaque like – adenocarcinoma only
- Nodular – adenocarcinoma only
- Ulcerated - adenocarcinoma only
3
Q
What are the risk factors/aetiology of oesophageal carcinoma?
A
- Men
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- GORD/Barrett’s oesophagus
- Nitrosamines – carcinogens in food e.g. cured meat, dry milk, beer, cheese, salted fish
- Thermal injury
- HPV
- Ethnicity – black/Caucasian more at risk
4
Q
What are the signs/symptoms of oesophageal carcinoma?
A
- Dysphagia/odynophagia – difficulty/painful swallowing
- Vomiting
- Anorexia/weight loss
- Melena
- Persistent indigestion
- Cough
- Lymphadenopathy
5
Q
What other conditions does oesophageal carcinoma present similarly to?
A
- Oesophageal strictures
- Compression of oesophagus from external source e.g. enlarged lymph glands
- Achalasia – lower oesophageal sphincter fails to open during swallowing
- Gastric cancer
6
Q
What are the investigations for oesophageal carcinoma?
A
- FBC, U&E, LFT, glucose, CRP
- Urgent endoscopy inc. biopsy
- CXR – inc. double contrast barium swallowing
- CT/MRI of chest/upper abdomen
7
Q
What are the surgical treatments for oesophageal carcinoma?
A
• Removal of carcinoma – if appropriate
8
Q
What are the pharmacological treatments for oesophageal carcinoma?
A
- Chemotherapy
* Radiation
9
Q
What are the non pharmacological treatments for oesophageal carcinoma?
A
• Nutritional supplements – if required
