Block 7 (GI) - L4 to L6 Flashcards
What are the layers of the intestine?
- Mucosa (villi, crypts, lamina propria, muscularis mucosa)
- Submucosa + Meissner’s plexus
- Muscularis propria (inner circular layer, Auberach’s plexus, outer longitudinal layer)
- Serosa
What is a defect involving all layers of the abdominal wall that leads to evisceration of bowel loops and other structures and is not covered with a sac?
Gastroschisis
What is incomplete closure of the abdominal musculature and visceral herniation into a membranous sac?
Omphalocele
Meckel diverticulum develops due to failed involution of the ___, leading to a blind outpouching.
Vitelline duct
Is Meckel diverticulum true or false?
True
What two types of ectopic tissue can be present in Meckel diverticulum?
Gastric and pancreatic - gastric tissue can secrete acid, leading to peptic ulceration
Discuss the disease of 2’s of Meckel diverticulum.
2% of population 2:1 (M:F) 2" in length 2 feet from ileocecal valve 2 years of age
What is the difference between a true diverticulum (Meckels’s) and a false diverticulum (diverticulosis)?
True: involves all three layers of the intestinal wall (mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria)
False: only involves the mucosa/submucosa
What is Hirschprung Disease?
Premature arrest or death of neural crest cells migrating from the cecum to the rectum
What mutation is commonly seen in Hirschprung disease?
RET proto-oncogene mutation
What are the symptoms of Hirschprung Disease?
Failure to pass meconium, obstruction/constipation
Which part of the colon is always involved in Hirschprung idsease?
Rectum
What are potential complications of Hirschprung disease?
Fluid/electrolyte disturbances, eneterocolitis, perforation, peritonitis, congenital megacolon (proximal dilation that can rupture)
What are associations with Hirschsprung disease?
Down Syndrome
Serious neurologic abnormalities
Describe the histopathology of Hirschsprung disease.
Complete lack of ganglion cells in both Meissner’s and Auberach’s plexuses
What is necrotizing enterocolitis?
Acute, necrotizing inflammation of small and/or large intestines (cause uncertain)
How does necrotizing enterocolitis present?
Premature infants
Bloody stools, circulatory collampse, abdominal distension
Which parts of the intestine does necrotizing enterocolitis typically involve?
Terminal ileum, cecum, right colon
What is celiac disease?
Immune-medaited enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten-containing foods in genetically predisposed individuals
Gluten is a major storage protein of wheat and similar grains - which component is largely responsible for celiac disease?
Gliadin
What is the clinical presentation of celiac disease?
Most common in 30-60 year olds
Diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, anemia
What are the HLA types associated with celiac disease?
HLA-DQ2
HLA-DQ8
What are other important associations with celiac disease?
Dermatitis Herpetiformis (skin blistering disease) and other autoimmune diseases
Describe the pathogenesis of celiac disease.
Gliadin is taken up into cells and processed by ttG, forming deamidated gliadin. APCs pick up gliadin, rpesent to T-cells, and ultimately form anti-gliadin Ab.
Also, IL-15 is expressed by epithelial cells, CD8 cells become cytotoxic and kill enterocytes
Describe the histopathology seen in celiac disease.
Increased intraepithelial lympohcytes and blunting of villi
What Ab can be tested for in celiac disease?
- IgA Ab to tissue transglutamine (most sensitive)
- IgA anti-endomysial (specific but less sensitive) Ab
- Anti-gliadin Ab
What does the absence of HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 indicate?
Good negative predictive value, but not helpful in confirming a diagnosis when they are present
What are risks associated with celiac disease?
Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma and small intestinal adenocarcinoma
Describe the gross appearance of the intestine in celiac disease.
Atrophic mucosa and flattened folds
What is tropical sprue?
Disease similar to celiac sprue seen in the tropics, leading to chronic bouts of diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies as a ressult
What are the symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis?
Abdominal pain, fever, watery diarrhea
What causes pseudomembranous colitis?
Disruption fo normal colonic microbiota by antibiotics leads to C. diff. overgrowth. C. diff. releases Toxins A and B, which ribosylate small GTPases, leading to cytoskeleton disruption, tight junction barrier loss, cytokine release, and apoptosis
How is pseudomembranous colitis tested for?
Detection of C. diff. toxin
Describe the pathology of pseudomembranous colitis.
Colonic mucosa covered by a yellow/green false membrane composed of mucus and neutrophils
What is Whipple disease?
Rare multisystem chronic disease caused by a Gram positive rod shaped actinomycete (Tropheryma whipplei)
What is the triad of symptoms seen in Whipple disease?
Diarrhea, weight loss, arthralgia
What are some extra-intestinal symptoms of Whipple disease?
Arthritis, lymphadenopathy, neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary disease
Discuss the pathogenesis of Whipple disease.
Macrophages (filled with organisms) accumulate in the lamina propria of the SI and lymph nodes, leading to lymphatic obstruction. The impaired lymphatic transport results in malabsorptive diarrhea.
Describe the histopathology of Whipple Disease.
Distended foamy macrophages filled with organisms (PAS+, diastase resistant)
What are the two types of inflammatory bowel disease?
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis
Compare the location of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
CD: upper GI tract involvement - segmental with skip lesions; cobblestone appearance
UC: colon only - diffuse, continuous disease
Compare the symptoms of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
CD: +/- bloody diarrhea
UC: bloody diarrhea
Compare the rectal involvement of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
CD: variable
UC: rectum involved
Compare the microscopic findings of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
Both: architectural distortion and crypt abscesses/cryptitis
CD: transmural lymphoid aggregates and granulomas
UC: NO granulomas
Compare the complications of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
CD: fissures, sinuses, fistulous tracts
UC: NO fissures, toxic megacolon
Both: colon adenocarcinoma (more common in UC)
Compare the extra-intestinal manifestions of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
CD: pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum
UC: primary sclerosing cholangitis (p-ANCA)
What is the difference between cryptitis and a crypt abscess?
Cryptitis - neutrophils within the epithelium of a colonic gland
Crypt abscess - colonic gland filled with neutrophils
What is creeping fat, seen in Crohn’s?
Normally, fat is located along the mesenteric area of the bowel; creeping fat refers to fat that is moving along the serosal surface
Which disease has pseudopolyps?
Ulcerative colitis
What is the frequency of the basal electric rhythm of the duodenum and ileum respectively?
Duodenum: 12 waves/minute
Ileum: 8-9 waves/minute
Where is iron absorbed in the small bowel?
Duodenum
Where is vitamin B12 absorbed in the small bowel?
Ileum
What is diverticular disease?
Acquired herniation of mucosa and submucosa leading to the formation of a false diverticula
What is diverticulitis?
When a diverticula becomes inflamed, usually due to obstruction with stool/mucus, leading to bacterial overgrowth/infection
Diverticular disease is associated with a ___ diet.
Low-fiber
What are the symptoms of diverticular disease?
Left lower quadrant pain, fever (diverticulitis), bleeding
Where is diverticular disease most common?
Left colon, particularly the sigmoid colon
What are complications of diverticular disease?
Perforation, peritonitis, fistula
How is diverticular disease treated?
Antibiotics and surgical intervention if complciations arise
What is a hernia?
Weakness or defect of abdominal wall that allows for a serosal-lined out-pouching of peritoneum
What is incarceration?
When a loop of intestines becomes trapped within a hernia sac
What is strangulation?
When the bowel is compressed and twisted at the mouth of the hernia, compromising blood supply
What are adhesions?
Fibrous bridges or band-like portions of scar tissue between loops of intestines caused by prior surgery, infection, or other inflammation; may result in obstruction
What is intussusception?
In-folding or telescoping of one segment of bowel into the adjacent distal segment
What is a volvulus?
Obstruction due to rotation or twisting of a loop of bowel around its mesenteric base of attachment
What is the most common site of volvulus?
Sigmoid colon, followed by the cecum
What is ischemic bowel disease?
Bowel hemorrhage and necrosis secondary to hypoxic injury and/or reperfusion injury
What types of patients get ischemic bowel disease?
Patients >70 years old
What are the symptoms of ischemic bowel disease?
Sudden severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea (can lead to shock, sepsis, and death)
What are some causes of acute arterial occlusions that can cause ischemic bowel disease?
- Atherosclerosis
- Aortic aneurysm
- Hypercoagulable states
- Oral contraceptive use
- Embolization of cardiac vegetations or aortic atheromas