302 Pathophysiology and cytopathology of ascites Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 6 causes of ascites?

A

Fluid
Flatus
Faeces
Fat
Faetus

Neoplasia, Inflammation, Infection, or rarities like sarcoidosis

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2
Q

What are the clinical presentations of ascites?

A

Flank dullness on examination, shifting dullness, a fluid wave, evidence of pleural effusions

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3
Q

What causes caput medusae?

A

Portal hypertension
Dilated superficial (superior and inferior) epigastric veins radiating from a central large venous varix

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4
Q

What is paracentesis?

A

the perforation of a cavity of the body or of a cyst or similar outgrowth

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5
Q

What is the equation for filtration/reabsorption rate?

A

Qf = P eff (Difference between hydrostatic/blood pressure minus oncotic pressure) x K f (permeability x exchange area

Affected by:
Change in hydrostatic pressure
Change in oncotic pressure
Change in permeability
Change in exchange area

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6
Q

What are serous membranes?

A

The outer lining of organs and body cavities of the abdomen and chest, including the stomach

Eg. Pericardium, pleura, peritoneum, tunica vaginalis of testis

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7
Q

What are the limitations for clinical detection of effusions in different serous membranes?

A

Ascites 500 ml
pleura 300 ml
pericardium 50ml

Effusions are always pathological

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8
Q

What is a transudate effusion?

A

Plasma filtrate with low protein content

Caused by change in hydrostatic or oncotic pressure

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9
Q

What is an exudate effusion?

A

Unfiltered plasma with high protein content

Caused by change in vascular permeability or exchange area

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10
Q

What are the causes of portal hypertension?

A

liver cirrhosis (80%)
alcoholic hepatitis
chronic cardiac failure
constrictive pericarditis

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11
Q

What are the causes of hypoalbuminaemia?

A

nephrotic syndrome
protein losing enteropathy
malnutrition

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12
Q

What is the role of albumin?

A

Helps keep fluid from leaking out of your blood vessels into other tissues

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13
Q

What are the different causes of ascites?

A

Portal hypertension liver cirrhosis (80%)
= hydrostatic

Hypoalbuminaemia
= oncotic

Peritoneal disease
= permeability
= exchange area

Others:
chylous ascites (lymphatic blockage e.g. in malignancy)
haemoperitoneum
pancreatic disease
sarcoidosis

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14
Q

What is peritoneal disease?

A

A pattern of metastatic disease where cancer has spread from where it initially started into the lining of the abdominal cavity

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15
Q

What is SAAG?

A

SAAG = serum albumin – ascites albumin

A high gradient (SAAG >1.1 g/dL) indicates portal hypertension and suggests a nonperitoneal cause of ascites

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16
Q

What does Pale yellow and watery ascites fluid indicate?

A

Transudate from CCF cirrhosis protein etc

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17
Q

What does turgid and yellow to white ascites fluid indicate?

A

Infection, malignancy, pancreatitis

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18
Q

What does milky/white/ green ascites fluid indicate?

A

Chylous effusion caused by cholesterol from TB, rheumatoid disease or an old effusion

19
Q

What is a chylous effusion?

A

An accumulation of chyle in the pleural space due to disruption or obstruction of the thoracic duct

20
Q

What does brown ascites fluid indicate?

A

Haemorrhage (trauma, pancreatitis, malignancy) or melanin

21
Q

What does green ascites fluid indicate?

A

Bile from biliary tract disease or ruptured bowel

22
Q

What does gelatinous ascites fluid indicate?

A

Hyaluronic acid from mesothelioma or mucin in pseudomyxoma peritonei

23
Q

Which cells are present in effusions?

A

Mesothelial
Macrophages
Lymphocytes
Eosinophils
Neutrophils
Plasma Cells
Strangers

24
Q

How do mesothelial cells present in ascites fluid?

A

Variable nuclear number, size, N:C ratio
Perinuclear cytoplasmic density
Peripheral lacy border

Mesodermal epithelium
Have microvilli
Single and grouped
Clusters, balls, papillae, cell-in-cell, single cell files

If malignant = mesothelioma

25
How do macrophages present in ascites fluid?
Usually present Can be difficult to separate from mesothelial cells (esp. degenerate) Usually single or in loose aggregates Foamy pale cytoplasm Eccentric bean shaped nucleus Lack moulding, windows
26
How do lymphocytes present in ascites fluid?
Usually a few present More frequent in longstanding effusions May be a range of maturation Lymphocytic effusions are associated with obstructed circulation through lymph nodes and associated with tuberculosis or lymphoma
27
How do neutrophiles present in ascites fluid?
If non-infectious may be well preserved If infectious then often degenerate If masses then usually benign Present in: Infection Infarction Gastrointestinal disease Foreign body Beware early tuberculous Malignancy
28
What are degenerate cells?
A pathological condition that causes cells to change in structure and function
29
What is a charcot leyden crystal?
Charcot Leyden crystals are hexagonal bipyramidal structures localised in the primary granules of the cytoplasm of eosinophils and basophils Their presence, along with eosinophilic infiltrate, is an indirect evidence of parasitic infestation
30
How do eosinophils present in ascites fluid?
Eosinophilia < 10 % Pleura mostly Generally not specific Mostly benign but rarely malignant Air is a stimulus so more common with repeated aspiration
31
What are Ferruginous Bodies?
A characteristic finding of asbestos exposure is the ferruginous body, a microscopic rod-shaped body with clubbed end
32
What is the architecture of malignant cells?
Groups – Clumps, Balls, Papillae, Glands vs Normally dispersed single cells with pleomorphism
33
How does malignancy appear in the lung?
Range of patterns of differentiation (large cell/adeno/squame) Dense cytoplasm Papillary groups May be highly vacuolated
34
Vacuolated meaning
Formed into or containing one or more vacuoles or small membrane-bound cavities within a cell
35
How does malignancy appear in the stomach?
Usually dispersed single cells but may form papillae or acini Signet ring or columnar cells Signet ring cells have many tiny vacuoles Can be rather bland with cells like macrophages
36
What are the features of mesothelioma?
Diffuse nodular pleural thickening (versus discrete) Often unilateral (versus bilateral) Thickening of fissures (versus intraparenchymal nodules)
37
What is an FNA test?
A fine needle aspiration (FNA)
38
What are the benefits of performing a fine needle aspiration?
Easily repeated allowing sampling of several areas with minimal trauma Minimal disturbance of tissue planes Confirms malignancy leaving lesion intact May be therapeutic for cysts and abscesses Quick feedback enables planning of other investigations Monitor therapy by repeated sampling
39
What is formalin?
A solution of formaldehyde and water It destroys all cytology
40
What is the difference between fixed and air dried cytology?
Dried with air or alcohol
41
What are cytospins?
Tissue pellet for further special stains or immunochemistry or molecular biologic tests
42
What is Reactive lymphadenopathy?
When lymph glands respond to infection by becoming swollen Eg. Non-specific lymphoid hyperplasia HIV-associated Mononucleosis RA, SLE, Syphilis Dermatopathic changes
43
What is Granulomatous lymphadenitis?
A chronic inflammatory condition that can be associated with lymphoproliferative, infectious and autoimmune diseases Caused by eg. TB Cat scratch, leprosy, paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, LGV, brucellosis Foreign body (talc, silica) Lymphoma Carcinoma Sarcoid
44
What is a granuloma?
A collection of activated epithelial histiocytes