GI Cancers Flashcards
(21 cards)
Define carcinoma
Malignancy of cells that make up the epithelial lining of skin or tissue lining organs
Define adenocarcinoma
Malignancy of glandular cells in epithelial tissue
Define adenoma
Benign tumour formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue
Order of incidence of GI cancers
- breast/prostate (not GI but most common generally)
- large bowel
- pancreas
- oesophagus
- stomach
- liver
What is the most common GI cancer?
Large bowel
What type of cancer is most common in gastric cancer?
Adenocarcinoma
Where is gastric cancer most commonly found in order?
Cardia
Antrum
Body
CAB
Classifications of gastric cancer
Location:
- cardia gastric cancer: similar presentation to oesophageal cancer
-non-cardia gastric cancer
Type: Lauren classification
- diffuse: more often in young patients + worse prognosis
- intestinal: better differentiated under microscope
- mixed
What types of cancers can you get in the stomach?
- adenocarcinoma (most common)
- lymphoma
- leiomyosarcoma
- neuroendocrine tumours
Risk factors of gastric cancer
- 50-70 years
- male
- pernicious anaemia
- H-pylori
- N- nitroso compound
- family history
- high salt
- smoking
What is pernicious anaemia?
Autoimmune attack on parietal cells > less intrinsic factor
Presentation of gastric cancer
- unexplained weight loss
- epigastric abdominal pain
- lymphadenopathy - Virchow’s node (enlargement of left supraclavicular node)
- dysphagia (if cardia gastric cancer)
What is Vichow’s node?
Enlargement of left supraclavicular node
Investigations of gastric cancer
- bloods: anaemia
- upper GI endoscopy + biopsy: for tissue diagnosis
- CT chest, abdomen + pelvis: for staging
Management of gastric cancer
- superficial: endoscopic mucosal resection
- localised: gastrectomy or chemo radiation (if not suitable for surgery)
- advanced/metastatic: chemotherapy/immunotherapy + support care
Where in the colon would a cancer most likely result in a patient presenting with a bowel obstruction?
Sigmoid colon
Where can you get squamous cell carcinomas in the GI tract?
Oesophagus
Anal canal distal to pectinate line
What is the assocaited tumour marker of pancreatic cancer?
CA 19-9
What is the tumour marker for colorectal cancer?
CEA
What are the tumour markers for the following:
- pancreatic cancer
- ovarian cancer
- breast cancer
- prostate carcinoma
- hepatocellular, teratoma
- colorectal cancer
- pancreatic cancer: CA 19-9
- ovarian cancer: CA 125
- breast cancer: CA 15-3
- prostate carcinoma: PSA
- hepatocellular, teratoma: AFP
- colorectal cancer: CEA
What is the tumour marker for hepatocellular cancer?
AFP
