Pathology Of Upper GI Tract Flashcards
What is meant by the term “oesophageal reflux”
The reflux of gastric acid into the oesophagus
What affects can oesophageal reflux have on the epithelium of the oesophagus?
It will thicken the squamous epithelium and in severe cases cause ulceration of the oesophagus
What are two common complications of oesophageal reflux?
Fibrosis occurring from healing and Barrett’s oesophagus
What problems can arise as a result of fibrosis after oesophageal reflux?
Stricture formation
Impairs oesophageal motility
Oesophageal obstruction
What histological change occurs in Barrett’s oesophagus?
The squamous epithelium of the oesophagus transforms into glandular epithelium
What are the two histological types of oesophageal cancer and which develops from Barrett’s oesophagus?
Squamous carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma (develops from Barrett’s oesophagus)
What are the risk factors for oesophageal squamous carcinoma?
Smoking, alcohol and dietary carcinogens
What are the risk factors for oesophageal adenocarcinoma?
Barrett’s oesophagus and obesity
What are the local effects of oesophageal cancer?
Obstruction
Ulceration
Proliferation
What are the forms of spread of oesophageal cancer and where does each spread to?
Direct spread to surrounding structures
Lymphatic spread to regional lymph nodes
Blood spread to liver
What is the five year survival rate of oesophageal cancer?
Less than 15%
What are the three types of gastritis
Type A- autoimmune
Type B- bacterial
Type C- chemical injury
What do the autoantibodies correspond to in autoimmune gastritis
Parietal cells and intrinsic factor
Describe the pathology of autoimmune gastritis
A trophy of specialised acid secreting gastric epithelium causes loss of specialised gastric epithelial cells, which decreases acid secretion and causes a loss of intrinsic factor. This loss of intrinsic factor causes vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia)
What bacteria causes bacterial gastritis?
H. Pylori
