Upper GI Tract Pathology Flashcards
What are some examples of pathologies of the upper GI tract?
Oesophageal reflux
Oesophageal cancer
Gastritis
Peptic ulceration
Gastric cancer
What is the upper GI tract formed from?
Oesophagus
Stomach
Duodenum
What is oesophageal reflux?
Reflux of gastric acid into the oesophagus
What is the pathology of oesophageal reflux?
Hiatus hernia
Thickening of squamous epithelium
Ulceration of oesophageal epithelium with severe reflux
What is is called when the oesophagus passes through the diaphram into the stomach?
Hiatus hernia
What does the squamous epithelium of the oesopahgus thicken because of oesophageal reflux?
Try to increase the thickeness to protect itself, but it is rapidly overcame
What are complications of oesophageal reflux?
Healing by fibrosis (after ulceration)
Barrett’s oesophagus
Why is the oesophagus healing by fibrosis after oesophageal reflux a problem?
Stricture (narrowing in oesophagus because muscle has been replaced by fibrous tissue)
Impaired oesophageal motility (food and liquid accumulate in oesophagus)
Oesophageal obstruction
What is stricture?
Narrowing in the oesophagus
What is Barrett’s metaplasia?
Type of metaplasia where transformation from squamous epithelium to glandular epithelium occurs
What is an abnormal change in the nature of a tissue called?
Metaplasia
What is Barrett’s oesophagus associated with?
Increased risk of cancer, it is a pre-malignant condition
What is oesophageal cancer?
Type of cancer affecting the oesophagus
What is the most common cancer of the alimentary tract?
Colorectal cancer
What is the second most common cancer of the alimentary tract?
Stomach cancer
What is the third most common cancer of the alimentary tract?
Oesophageal cancer
Is incidence of oesophageal cancer rising or decreasing?
Rising
What can be said about environmental and genetic components of oesophageal cancer?
Linked with environmental factors, does not seem to have a big genetic component
What are the 2 histological types of oesophageal cancer?
Squamous carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Squamous carcinoma is cancer of what type of cell?
Squamous cell
Adenocarcinoma is cancer of what type of cell?
Glandular tissue
How does adenocarcinoma occur in the oesophagus?
If squamous cells of oesophagus have changed to glandular, such as due to Barrett’s oesophagus
What are risk factors for squamous carcinoma oesophageal cancer?
Smoking
Alcohol
Dietary carcinogens