Pathology: Biliary Tree and Pancreas

Question 1

what is cholelithiasis?

Answer 1

gallstones

Question 2

what is found in normal bile?

Answer 2

micelles of cholesterol
phospholipids
bile salts
bilirubin

Question 3

is cholesterol hydrophobic or hydrophillic?

Answer 3

hydrophobic

Question 4

are bile salts hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

Answer 4

hydrophilic

Question 5

what causes the release of bile into the duodenum?

Answer 5

cholecystokinin

Question 6

what is the role of the gallbladder?

Answer 6

it stores and concentrates bile

Question 7

when do cholesterol gallstones form?

Answer 7

when there is an imbalance in the ratio between cholesterol and bile salts, disrupting micelle formation

Question 8

name four risk factors for cholesterol excess in bile

Answer 8

being female
obesity
diabetes
genetics

Question 9

what are two types of gallstones?

Answer 9

cholesterol

pigment

Question 10

what causes pigment gallstones?

Answer 10

an excess of bilirubin which can’t be dissolved by bile salts

Question 11

what is a mucocele?

Answer 11

a mucous cyst

Question 12

what is cholecystitis?

Answer 12

inflammation of the gallbladder

Question 13

what are the two types of cholecystitis?

Answer 13

acute and chronic

Question 14

what causes acute cholecystitis?

Answer 14

gallstones obstructing the outflow of bile

Question 15

what are three possible complications of acute cholecystitis?

Answer 15

empyema
rupture
peritonitis

Question 16

what does acute cholecystitis cause after 2-3 days?

Answer 16

intense adhesions

Question 17

when can chronic cholecystitis develop?

Answer 17

insidiously or after bouts of acute cholecystitis

Question 18

what happens to the gallbladder wall in chronic cholecystitis?

Answer 18

it becomes thickened but not distended

Question 19

what type of cancer occurs in the gallbladder?

Answer 19

adenocarcinoma

Question 20

what organ can adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder invade?

Answer 20

the liver

Question 21

what is the prognosis for adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder like?

Answer 21

poor

Question 22

what is carcinoma of the bile ducts called?

Answer 22

cholangiocarcinoma

Question 23

name two conditions that are associated with cholangiocarcinoma

Answer 23

ulcerative colitis

primary sclerosing cholangitis

Question 24

what does cholangiocarcinoma present with?

Answer 24

jaundice

Question 25

what is pancreatitis?

Answer 25

inflammation of the pancreas

Question 26

what are the two types of pancreatitis?

Answer 26

acute and chronic

Question 27

how does acute pancreatitis present?

Answer 27

sudden onset of severe abdominal pain

Question 28

what blood result indicates acute pancreatitis?

Answer 28

elevated serum amylase

Question 29

what effect does lipase autodigestion have on the pancreas?

Answer 29

intra and peripancreatic fat necrosis

Question 30

what effect does protease autodigestion have on the pancreas?

Answer 30

tissue destruction and haemorrhage

Question 31

name four possible complications of acute pancreatitis

Answer 31

death shock pseudocyst formation abscess formation

Question 32

name two electrolyte imbalances that acute pancreatitis can cause

Answer 32

hypocalcaemia | hyperglycaemia

Question 33

what is chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 33

a relapsing disorder that may develop insidiously of after bouts of acute pancreatitis

Question 34

what happens to the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 34

pancreas tissue is replaced by inflammation and scar tissue, acini and islets are destroyed

Question 35

name three things associated with carcinoma of the pancreas

Answer 35

smoking diabetes familial pancreatitis

Question 36

what is the prognosis for pancreatic cancer like?

Answer 36

poor

Question 37

where can a carcinoma of the head of the pancreas invade?

Answer 37

the duodenal wall

Question 38

what can a carcinoma of the head of the pancreas obstruct?

Answer 38

the common bile duct

Question 39

what can a carcinoma of the tail pancreas invade?

Answer 39

the spleen

Question 40

where can carcinoma of the pancreas metastasise to via the haematogenous route?

Answer 40

the liver

Question 41

name three organs that pancreatic cancer can directly spread to

Answer 41

duodenum stomach spleen