Chapter 13: The GI Tract Flashcards
Disordered esophageal motility (uncoordinated peristalsis) with inability to relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
S/S: Dysphagia for solids & liquids, putrid breath, High LES pressure on esophageal manometry, “bird-beak” sign on barium swallow study
Results in hypertrophy/dilation of esophagus
What is damaged?
How can the damage occur?
What is there an increased risk of?
Achalasia
1) Loss or damaged ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus
2) idiopathic or secondary to known insult (viral, autoimmune, genetic) In Latin America, complication of Chagas Disease
3) Esophageal Squamous cell carcinoma
Thin protrusion of esophageal mucosa membranes, most often into the lumen of upper esophagus
Presents with dysphagia for poorly chewed food, esophageal substernal pain, and aspiration or regurgitation of foods and liquids
Increased risk for esophageal sqamous cell carcinoma
Esophageal Web
Rings are thicker and contain smooth muscle
Cervical esophageal web (cause dysphagia)
Mucosal lesions of the mouth and pharynx
Iron-deficiency anemia
What is a potential complication?
Plummer-Vinson Syndrome
Carcinoma of oropharynx and upper esophagus
Remember: Plummers DIG (dysphagia, iron def, glossitis)
Autoimmune disease characterized by activation of fibroblasts and deposition of collagen (fibrosis)
Esophageal smooth muscle atrophy, decreased LES pressure, dysmotility, then acid reflux and dysphagia, then stricture > Barrett esophagus, and aspiration
Which antibodies would you look for?
What is CREST Syndrome (throwback thursday)?
Why do we care about this in the GI Unit?
Scleroderma
Anti-Scl70 and anti-Centromere antibodies (for CREST)
CREST (systemic sclerosis, limited type): Calcinosis/anti-Centromere antibodies, Raynaud Phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasias of the skin
Disease affects the lower esophageal sphincter primarily, lack of peristalsis, dysphagia
Outpouching of pharyngeal mucosa through an acquired defect in the muscular wall (false diverticulum)
Arises above the upper esophageal sphincter at the junction of the esophagus and pharynx
Cause: disordered fxn of cricopharyngeal musculature
Presents with dysphagia, obstruction, and halitosis
Regurgitation of food eaten previously in absence of dysphagia
Zenker Diverticulum
Herniation of the stomach through an enlarged diaphragmatic opening
S/S: heartburn, regurgitation due to incompetence of LES
2 types:
1) cap of gastric mucosa move upward, above diaphragm due to enlargement of hiatus and laxity of circumferential CT, resolves on its own
2) portion of gastric fundus herniates through a defect in the diaphragmatic CT and lies beside the esophagus, extreme case = stomach herniates into thorax, these hernias need surgery
Hiatal Hernia
1) Sliding hernia
2) Paraesophageal hernia
Name it!
Transmural, usually distal esophageal rupture due to violent retching; surgical emergency
Leads to air in mediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema
Boerhaave syndrome
Name it!
Infiltration of esosinophils in the esophagus in atopic pts.
Food allergens lead to dysphagia, heartburn, strictures.
Sensation of food “sticking” upon swallowing
ID’d after found Unresponsive to GERD therapy
Eosinophilic esophagitis
1) associated with lye ingestion and acid reflux
2) Painless bleeding of dilated submucosal veins in lower 1/3 of esophagus 2ndary to portal HTN & cirrhosis, these veins are prone to rupture and hemorrhage
1) Esophageal strictures
2) Esophageal varices
Associated with reflux, infection in immunocompromised
Dysphagia, severe pain on swallowing
Can have Candida (white pseudomembrane), herpes (punched-out ulcers), CMV (linear ulcers) or be due to chemical ingestion
(Infective) esophagitis
Commonly presents as heartburn and regurgitation upon lying down. May also present with nocturnal cough and dyspnea, adult-onset asthma. Decrease in LES tone.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Mucosal lacerations at the gastroesophageal junction due to severe vomiting. Leads to painful hematemesis. Usually found in alcoholics and bulimics.
Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
Glandular metaplasia: replacement of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with intestinal epithelium (nonciliated columnar w/goblet cells) in the distal esophagus.
Due to chronic acid reflux (GERD)
Associated with esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, and increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma correlated with length of esophagus involved and the degree of dysplasia
Barrett Esophagus
Patient presentation: progressive dysphagia (first solids, then liquids) and weight loss, poor prognosis
2 Types of cancer? Usual locations for each?
Risk factors? AABCDEFFGH
Esophageal cancer
1) Squamous cell carcinoma = worldwide, upper 2/3 of esophagus, (achalasia, alcohol, cigs, diverticula (Zenker), esophageal web, hot liquids)
2) Adenocarcinoma = US, lower 1/3, (Barrett esophagus, cigs, Fat (obesity), GERD)
Others: familial
Hypertrophy of the pylorus causes obstruction.
Palpable “olive” mass in epigastric region
Nonbilious projectile vomiting in first month of life
Could lead to hypochloremic alkalosis (loss of HCl)
Most common indication for abdominal surgery in the 1st 6 months of life (treat: surgical incision)
More often in firstborn males
Congenital pyloric stenosis
Mucosal barrier breakdown/necrosis, may extend to deeper tissues forming ulcer = inflammation b/c permit acid-induced injury (hypersecretion of gastric acid usually)
Widespread petechial hemorrhages
Could be benign abdominal discomfort or full on hemorrhage
Causes:
Stress
NSAIDs (decreased PGE2 leads to decreased gastric mucosa protection)
alcohol
uremia
burns (decreased plasma volume leads to sloughing of gastric mucosa) SPECIAL NAME?
brain injury (Increased vagal tone => increased ACh => increased H+ production) SPECIAL NAME?
Acute gastritis (erosive)
Remember:
BURNED by the CURLING iron.
Always CUSHion the BRAIN.
Chronic, diffuse inflammatory disease of the body and fundus of stomach
Autoimmune disorder characterized by:
destruction of parietal cells, Autoantibodies to parietal cells & intrinsic factor, pernicious Anemia, and Achlorhydria
Associated with other autoimmune disorders: grave’s, addison, vitiligio, T1DM etc.
What’s pernicious anemia? No, really I don’t remember Unit 1. GAHHHHH.
Increased risk for what?
Autoimmune atrophic gastritis (chronic gastritis) Remember: type A (Autoimmune), type B (H. pylori Bacteria)
Pernicious anemia = megaloblastic anemia caused by malabsorption of Vit B12 owing to a deficiency of intrinsic factor.
Increased risk for gastric adenocarcinoma (intestinal type)
Break time. I dare you to stand up and dance to this for 30 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzSdPxlGGZc
Chronic inflammatory disease of antrum of stomach
PMNs, plasma cells
What is the most common cause of this disease?
What is there an increased risk for ?
Chronic gastritis
H. pylori found on epithelial surface of stomach (no invasion)
Increased risk of ulcercation, MALT lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma
Gastric hypertrophy with protein loss (albumin), parietal cell atrophy, and increase mucous cells.
Hyperplastic hypersecretory gastropathy
Precancerous, need regular endoscopy
Rugae of stomach are so hypertrophied they look like brain gyri. ENLARGED RUGAE = enlarged stomach.
S/S: postprandial pain, relieved by antacids, weight loss, peripheral edema, maybe ascites
Menetrier disease
Normal flat mucosal surface of stomach replaced by villiform projections with fibromuscular proliferation in the lamina propria
Inflammation is minimal unlike H. pylori gastritis
Causes?
Reactive (Chemical) gastropathy
Chronic NSAID use
Focal destruction of gastric mucosa
Pain can be greater with meals = weight loss
H. pylori in 70%
Mechanism is decreased mucosal protection (due to H. pylori chronic gastritis causing epithelial injury) against gastric acid
These pts secrete waay less acid than normal ppl (gastric hyposecretion)
Other causes are NSAIDS
Increased risk of carcinoma
Often occurs in older patients
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Specifically Gastric Ulcer
Focal destruction of duodenal mucosa
Pain decreases with meals = weight gain
H. pylori infection in 100% (=> cytokines => increased gastrin release/decreased somatostatin => increased gastric acid secretion)
Mechanism is decreased mucosal protection or increased gastric acid secretion
Other causes are Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Generally benign
Hypertrophy of Brunner glands
Seen in ppl with cirrhosis 10x than normal ppl
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Duodenal Ulcers
Tend to be nonagressive tumors in the stomach
Aggressive in small & large intestines
Overexpression of c-kit (gain of function mutation)
Derived from pacemaker cells of Cajal
Usually submucosal, covered by intact mucosa, spindle shaped cells in whorls and interlacing bundles w/cytoplasmic vacuoles embedded in a collagenous stroma
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)
What is the most important causative agent for stomach cancer and is implicated in about 2/3rds of cases?
H. pylori
H. pylori
Smoking
Nitrosamines
A diet high in starch, smoked, or cured fish and meat, pickled vegetables
Possible factors in carcinoma of stomach
Stomach cancer is almost always adenocarcinoma.
Early aggressive local spread and node/liver metastasis. Often presents with acanthosis nigricans.
Two types?
1) associated with H. pylori, dietary nitrosamines (smoked foods), tobacco smoking, achlorhydria, chronic gastritis. Commonly located on lesser curvature; looks like ulcer with raised margins, originate from areas of intestinal metaplasia
2) not associated with H. pylori, signet ring cells, stomach wall grossly thickened and leathery (linitis plastica)
1) Intestinal
2) Diffuse *linitis plastica = entire stomach involved
Difference in appearance of a benign peptic ulcer and an ulcerating adenocarcinoma?
Benign ulcer = punchout margins and a smooth base
Cancer = firm, raised and nodular, lateral margins are irregular and its base is ragged
Involvement of left supraclavicular node by metastasis from stomach
Virchow node
Bilateral metastases to ovaries, abundant mucus, signet ring cells
Krukenberg Tumor
Subcutaneous periumbilical metastasis
Sister mary joseph nodule