Liver & Pancreas Pathology

Question 1

What are the two models of liver histology?

Answer 1

Lobular & Acini models.

Question 2

What are the three zones of the hepatic acinus?

Answer 2

Periportal (Zone 1), Midlobular (Zone 2), Centrilobular (Zone 3).

Question 3

What is the composition of the portal triad?

Answer 3

Bile duct, hepatic artery, portal vein.

Question 4

What is the function of the central vein in the liver?

Answer 4

Drains blood from hepatocytes into the hepatic vein.

Question 5

What are the types of hepatic degeneration?

Answer 5

Ballooning, foamy, and steatosis.

Question 6

What is steatosis?

Answer 6

Accumulation of neutral fat (triglycerides) in liver cells.

Question 7

What are the types of necrosis in the liver?

Answer 7

Coagulative and lytic (hydropic) necrosis.

Question 8

What are Councilman bodies?

Answer 8

Dead hepatocytes found in apoptosis.

Question 9

What is the main cause of centrilobular necrosis?

Answer 9

High dose of paracetamol toxicity.

Question 10

What is the difference between fibrosis and cirrhosis?

Answer 10

Cirrhosis includes regenerative nodules surrounded by fibrosis, while fibrosis alone does not.

Question 11

What is jaundice?

Answer 11

Yellowish discoloration of skin and sclera due to bilirubin retention.

Question 12

What are the five main causes of jaundice?

Answer 12

Excessive bilirubin production, reduced uptake, impaired conjugation, decreased excretion, impaired bile flow.

Question 13

What is kernicterus?

Answer 13

Accumulation of indirect bilirubin in the brain, leading to neurological damage.

Question 14

What are the two types of jaundice?

Answer 14

Unconjugated (indirect) and conjugated (direct) jaundice.

Question 15

Which form of bilirubin is water-soluble?

Answer 15

Conjugated (direct) bilirubin.

Question 16

Which form of bilirubin can be excreted in urine?

Answer 16

Conjugated (direct) bilirubin.

Question 17

What are the key liver function tests for hepatocyte integrity?

Answer 17

AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), LDH.

Question 18

What are the key liver function tests for biliary excretory function?

Answer 18

Serum bilirubin, ALP, GGT.

Question 19

What is the most specific test for liver failure?

Answer 19

Ammonia level.

Question 20

What is cholestasis?

Answer 20

Systemic retention of bilirubin and other bile components due to hepatocellular dysfunction or obstruction.

Question 21

What are common histologic features of liver cirrhosis?

Answer 21

Bridging fibrous septa, disruption of liver architecture, parenchymal nodules.

Question 22

What is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis?

Answer 22

Alcoholic liver disease.

Question 23

What is portal hypertension?

Answer 23

Increased resistance to portal blood flow leading to complications.

Question 24

What are the three categories of portal hypertension?

Answer 24

Pre-hepatic, hepatic, post-hepatic.

Question 25

What are the main complications of portal hypertension?

Answer 25

Ascites, esophageal varices, splenomegaly, hepatic encephalopathy.

Question 26

What are the most common benign liver tumors?

Answer 26

Cavernous hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, nodular regenerative hyperplasia.

Question 27

What is the most common primary malignant liver tumor?

Answer 27

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Question 28

What are major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma?

Answer 28

HBV, HCV, aflatoxin, cirrhosis, alcoholism, hemochromatosis.

Question 29

What is the fibrolamellar variant of HCC?

Answer 29

A rare form of HCC occurring in young adults, not associated with cirrhosis.

Question 30

What is the most effective treatment for HCC?

Answer 30

Surgical resection or liver transplantation.

Question 31

What is the prognosis of HCC?

Answer 31

Poor, with median survival of 7 months.

Question 32

What are the exocrine and endocrine functions of the pancreas?

Answer 32

Exocrine: digestive enzymes; Endocrine: insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, etc.

Question 33

What genetic disorder affects the pancreas and lungs?

Answer 33

Cystic fibrosis.

Question 34

What are the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis?

Answer 34

Alcohol abuse and gallstones.

Question 35

What are the lab findings in acute pancreatitis?

Answer 35

Elevated serum amylase and lipase, hypocalcemia, hyperglycemia.

Question 36

What is a major cause of pancreatic cancer?

Answer 36

Smoking.

Question 37

What is the most common site of pancreatic cancer?

Answer 37

Head of the pancreas.

Question 38

What is the most common type of pancreatic cancer?

Answer 38

Adenocarcinoma.

Question 39

What are common symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Answer 39

Pain, jaundice, weight loss.

Question 40

What are tumor markers for pancreatic cancer?

Answer 40

CEA, CA19-9.