Alimentary Tract Tumors

Question 1

T/F: Many patients with colorectal cancer are asymptomatic.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What is the most common GI malignancy in the US?

Answer 2

• colorectal cancer

* lifetime risk = 5%*

Question 3

Fill in the blank: the incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is _______ but the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is _______.

Answer 3

• scc = decreasing

- adenocarcinoma = increasing

Question 4

What is the cause of Barrett’s esophagus?

Answer 4

• Chronic GERD leads to metaplasia of esophageal tissue

Question 5

Pillcam is used more commonly in what GI cancer?

Answer 5

small intestinal cancer

Question 6

What is the best way to prevent colorectal cancer?

Answer 6

• screening for premalignant polyps

Question 7

What is the major risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma?

Answer 7

• GERD (Barrett’s esophagus)

Question 8

In Barett’s Esophagus, what does metaplasia of esophageal tissue mean?

Answer 8

• replacement of normal squamous epithelium with metaplastic columnar epithelium with goblet cells

Question 9

For patients with Barett’s Esophagus what screening test is recommended every 2-5 years?

Answer 9

• upper endoscopy

Question 10

Early satiety is a common sign of what this type of cancer.

Answer 10

gastric cancer

Question 11

What is a very common sign of colorectal cancer?

Answer 11

• iron deficiency anemia

Question 12

What are the major risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 12

• smoking, alcohol

Question 13

What are the 2 greatest risk factor of colorectal cancer?

Answer 13

• family history of colorectal cancer

- inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis)

Question 14

What is Virchow’s node?

Answer 14

left supraclavicular adenopathy which is a sign of metastatic disease in gastric cancer

Question 15

An apple core lesion in the large bowl is associated with what?

Answer 15

colorectal cancer

Question 16

What are the 2 types of esophageal cancer and at what part of the esophagus are they located?

Answer 16

• squamous cell carcinoma = mid esophagus

- adenocarcinoma = distal esophagus

Question 17

What type of colonic polyps are known to be benign?

Answer 17

• hamartomatous

Question 18

What type of colonic polyps have the highest malignant potential?

Answer 18

• adenomatous (tubular, tublovillous, villous)

Question 19

Esophageal cancer has the highest incidence in these 2 continents?

Answer 19

• Asia

- Africa (Southern/Eastern)

Question 20

What fraction of patients who have colorectal cancer will die of the disease?

Answer 20

1/3

Question 21

What are the 5 signs of esophageal cancer?

Answer 21

• dysphagia
• weight loss
• anorexia
• iron deficiency anemia
• tracheoesophageal fistula

Question 22

If a patient has a family history of colorectal cancer when should screening begin and how often?

Answer 22

• colonoscopy beginning at age 40 or 10 years before the age of youngest at diagnosis
• repeat every 5 years

whichever comes first

Question 23

Gastric cancer is commonly associated with this type of infection.

Answer 23

H. Pylori infection

Question 24

What diagnostic study is used for colorectal cancer?

Answer 24

colonoscopy

biopsy is necessary for confirmation of diagnosis

Question 25

What 3 diagnostic tests can be done for esophageal cancer?

Answer 25

• barium swallow
• CT scan
• endoscopy

Question 26

If a patient is at average risk of colorectal cancer, when should screening begin and how often?

Answer 26

• colonoscopy at 50 years of age and every 10 years after

Question 27

What is the diagnostic study of choice for gastric cancer?

Answer 27

• endoscopy

* it can look like gastric ulcer = biopsy is needed*

Question 28

Salt-preserved foods or N-nitroso compounds are associated with what type of cancer?

Answer 28

gastric cancer