1.04 - GI Cancers Flashcards
Common types of oesophageal carcinoma.
- squamous cell carcinoma
- adenocarcinoma
Features of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
- extensive local growth
- lymph node metastasis
- middle third of oesophagus
Features of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).
- less locally invasive
- wide metastasis
- lower third of oesophagus
Risk factors for oesophageal cancer.
- male
- increasing age
- radiation therapy exposure
- elevated BMI
- GORD
- tobacco smoking
- alcohol consumption
How can oesophageal cancer be avoided?
Primarily the avoidance of environmental triggers:
- smoking cessation
- avoid excessive alcohol
- healthy diet
- regular exercise
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
GORD - gastric acid contents irritate the oesophageal squamous mucosa causing inflammation.
Chronic exposure results in metaplastic change to glandular epithelium.
This has a risk of progressing to adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.
Symptoms of oesophageal carcinoma.
- progressive dysphagia
- unexplained weight loss
- early satiety
- haematemesis
- melena
- chest pain
Signs of oesophageal carcinoma.
- cervical lymphadenopathy
- pleural effusion
- abdominal distension
- hepatomegaly
- jaundice
- supraclavicular lymph nodes
- axillary lymph nodes
Oesophageal cancer tumour markers.
CEA and CA19-9
Management of oesophageal carcinoma.
- endoscopic therapy
- oesophagectomy
- chemoradiotherapy
Vascular supply to the stomach.
Branches of coeliac artery:
- left gastric artery
- common hepatic artery (branches into right gastric artery)
- splenic artery (branches into short gastric arteries)
Innervation of the stomach:
a) sympathetic
b) parasympathetic
a) T6-T9 spinal cord segments
b) Vagus nerve
Most common subtype of gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma
Gastric cancer risk factors.
- H. pylori infection
- EBV infection
- smoking
- alcohol consumption
- obesity
- salt consumption
- radiation exposure
- male sex
- increased age
- family history
Genetic conditions that predispose to gastric cancer.
- Lynch syndrome
- familial adenomatous polyposis
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Symptoms of gastric cancer.
- epigastric pain
- unexplained weight loss
- dysphagia
- early satiety
- persistent vomiting
- haematemesis
- iron deficiency anaemia
Signs of gastric cancer.
- lymphadenopathy
- abdominal distension / masses
- hepatomegaly
- jaundice
- pleural effusion
Sites of lymphadenopathy in gastric cancer.
- Virchow’s node (left supraclavicular LN)
- Irish node (left axillary LN)
What is Sister Mary Joseph’s node?
Periumbilical mass suggestive of gastric cancer.