24- Upper GIT Explains 2 Flashcards
What are the main risk factors for pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
Smoking, diabetes, adenoma, familial adenomatous polyposis
In which part of the pancreas does adenocarcinoma mainly occur?
Head of the pancreas (70%)
How does pancreatic adenocarcinoma spread?
It spreads locally and metastasizes to the liver
Why is it important to differentiate carcinoma of the pancreas from other periampullary tumors?
Pancreatic carcinoma has a worse prognosis compared to other periampullary tumors
What are the clinical features of pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
Weight loss, painless jaundice, epigastric discomfort (late feature due to invasion of the coeliac plexus), pancreatitis, Trousseau’s sign (migratory superficial thrombophlebitis)
What imaging studies are used to investigate pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
Ultrasonography (may miss small lesions), CT scanning (pancreatic protocol), PET/CT (for operable disease), ERCP/MRI (bile duct assessment), staging laparoscopy (to exclude peritoneal disease)
How can jaundice in pancreatic adenocarcinoma be managed?
ERCP and stent placement for palliation
What is the management approach for adenocarcinoma in the head of the pancreas?
Whipple’s resection (with the possibility of dumping syndrome and ulcers). Pylorus preservation and SMA/SMV resection are newer techniques.
What is the management approach for adenocarcinoma in the body and tail of the pancreas?
Distal pancreatectomy, with a poor prognosis
What is the usual treatment for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
Adjuvant chemotherapy
What procedure may be necessary for duodenal obstruction caused by pancreatic adenocarcinoma?
Surgical bypass
What are some extrinsic causes of dysphagia?
Mediastinal masses and cervical spondylosis
What are some examples of intrinsic causes of dysphagia?
Tumours, strictures, oesophageal web, and Schatzki rings
What is an example of an oesophageal wall cause of dysphagia?
Achalasia
Which neurological conditions can cause dysphagia?
CVA (cerebrovascular accident), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brainstem pathology, and myasthenia gravis
What is the recommended investigation for all patients with dysphagia?
Upper GI endoscopy, unless there are compelling reasons not to perform it
How can motility disorders be best appreciated in dysphagia patients?
Fluoroscopic swallowing studies
What blood test should be performed in patients with dysphagia?
Full blood count
What additional studies may be required to evaluate conditions like achalasia and GERD in dysphagia patients being considered for fundoplication surgery?
Ambulatory esophageal pH and manometry studies
What causes benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
An increase in the epithelial and stromal cell numbers in the peri-urethral zone of the prostate
How common is BPH in men over 80 years old?
90% of men aged over 80 will have at least microscopic evidence of BPH
What are the common lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH?
Poor flow, nocturia, hesitancy, incomplete and double voiding, terminal dribbling, urgency, incontinence
What are the medical therapy options for BPH?
Alpha blockers and 5 α reductase inhibitors
What examinations and tests are done to investigate BPH?
Digital rectal examination (to assess prostatic size and morphology), urine dipstick (for infections and haematuria), uroflowmetry (to assess flow rate and exclude BOO), bladder pressure studies (for detrusor failure, in atypical symptoms or prior to redo surgery), bladder scanning (to measure residual volumes), ultrasound (if high pressure chronic retention)
What lifestyle changes can help manage mild BPH symptoms?
Stopping smoking and altering fluid intake
How do alpha blockers work in BPH?
They work quickly on receptor zones located at the bladder neck
What are the potential side effects of alpha blockers?
Well-documented cardiovascular side effects
What is the role of 5 α reductase inhibitors in preventing acute urinary retention?
They may help prevent acute urinary retention
How do 5 α reductase inhibitors work in BPH?
They work on testosterone metabolizing enzymes and have a slower onset of action
What is the surgical therapy of choice for severe BPH symptoms or if medical therapy fails?
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
What alternative surgical procedures may be considered for small prostates?
More tailored bladder neck incision procedures
What potential complication may occur following surgical therapy for BPH?
Retrograde ejaculation
How has the change in irrigation solutions helped minimize complications during TURP?
It has minimized the TURP syndrome of electrolyte disturbances
What is the most common cause of biliary disease in patients with HIV?
Sclerosing cholangitis due to infections like CMV, Cryptosporidium, and Microsporidia
What can cause pancreatitis in the context of HIV infection?
Anti-retroviral treatment, especially didanosine, or opportunistic infections like CMV
Why do treatments differ for SCC’s and adenocarcinomas of the oesophagus?
Due to positive outcomes observed with radical chemoradiotherapy for localised SCC’s, obviating the need for surgery
What are the surgical options for oesophageal cancer treatment?
Endoscopic mucosal resection (for early localised adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus), transhiatal oesophagectomy (commonly used for junctional tumors), Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy (two stage approach for middle and distal tumors), McKeown oesophagectomy (three field approach, useful for proximal tumors)
Who should be considered for surgery in oesophageal cancer treatment?
Only patients whose staging investigations are negative for metastatic disease
Is neoadjuvant radiotherapy alone routinely performed prior to resection?
No, it confers little benefit and is not routinely performed
What is associated with a survival advantage in oesophageal cancer treatment?
Preoperative chemotherapy (OE02 trial) and perioperative chemotherapy in junctional tumors
Is postoperative chemotherapy generally recommended following oesophageal resections?
No, it is not generally recommended outside of clinical trials
What strategies are used for palliation in non-operable oesophageal cancer?
Combination chemotherapy to improve quality of life and survival, trastuzumab for HER2 positive tumors, oesophageal intubation with self-expanding metal stents for occluding tumors >2cm from the cricopharyngeus, covered metal stents for malignant fistulas, laser therapy and argon plasma coagulation for tumor overgrowth and bleeding
Are photodynamic therapy and ethanol injections routinely used in oesophageal cancer treatment?
No, they confer little benefit and should not be routinely used
What can cause haematuria due to trauma?
Injury to the renal tract, commonly due to blunt injury, but can also be caused by penetrating injuries. Ureter trauma is rare and usually iatrogenic. Bladder trauma can occur due to road traffic accidents or pelvic fractures.
What infection should be remembered as a cause of haematuria?
Tuberculosis
Which malignancies can cause haematuria?
Renal cell carcinoma (may present with paraneoplastic syndromes), urothelial malignancies (transitional cell carcinoma, painless haematuria), squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (rare bladder tumors), prostate cancer, and penile cancers (squamous cell carcinoma)
What renal disease can cause haematuria?
Glomerulonephritis
What are some structural abnormalities that can cause haematuria?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) due to hypervascularity of the prostate gland, cystic renal lesions (e.g., polycystic kidney disease), vascular malformations, and renal vein thrombosis due to renal cell carcinoma
What coagulopathy can cause bleeding of underlying lesions?
Coagulopathy
Which drugs can cause haematuria?
Aminoglycosides, chemotherapy (causing tubular necrosis or interstitial nephritis), penicillin, sulphonamides, NSAIDs (causing interstitial nephritis), and anticoagulants
What non-pathological cause of haematuria should be considered?
Exercise-induced haematuria
Which gynaecological condition can cause haematuria?
Endometriosis, presenting with flank pain, dysuria, and cyclical haematuria
What iatrogenic factors can cause haematuria?
Catheterisation and radiotherapy (causing cystitis, severe haemorrhage, and bladder necrosis)
What can cause pseudohaematuria?
Consumption of beetroot
What are penile fractures?
Rare urological trauma involving a fracture in the proximal part of the penile shaft, often involving the urethra.
What is the typical history given by patients with penile fractures?
A snapping sensation followed by immediate pain, usually occurring during vigorous intercourse.
What can be observed during examination of a penile fracture?
Tense haematoma and blood at the meatus if the urethra is injured.
What is the recommended management for penile fractures?
Surgical intervention, specifically a circumferential incision made immediately inferior to the glans.
What is done during the surgical procedure for penile fractures?
The skin and superficial tissues are stripped back, and the penile shaft is inspected. Injuries are usually sutured, and the urethra is repaired over a catheter.
What is tuberous sclerosis (TS)?
A genetic condition with autosomal dominant inheritance.
What are the cutaneous features of TS?
Depigmented ‘ash-leaf’ spots that fluoresce under UV light, roughened patches of skin over the lumbar spine (Shagreen patches), adenoma sebaceum (butterfly distribution over the nose), fibromata beneath nails (subungual fibromata), and café-au-lait spots (less commonly seen).