Disorders of the Esophagus and Stomach Flashcards
Esophagitis
Injury of the esophageal mucosa with subsequent inflammation.
Esophageal Disorders
- Reflux Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Infection
- HSV
- CMV
- Candida
- Mallory Weiss Tear
- Esophageal SCC
- Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Reflux Esophagitis
Chronic regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus producing various degrees of tissue damage. The acid-peptic action of gastric juices is critical to the development of injury to the esophageal mucosa.
Reflux Esophagitis - Pathogenesis
- Decreased efficacy of esophageal antireflux mechanisms.
- Inadequate / slowed esophageal clearance of refluxed material.
- Presence of a sliding hiatal hernia.
- Delayed gastric emptying and increased gastric volume.
- Reduced reparative capacity of esophageal mucosa by protracted exposure to acid
Reflux Esophagitis - Clinical Features
- Commoner in adults >40 years of age.
- Also occurs in infants and children.
- Cardinal features: Dysphagia, Heart burn, Regurgitation of sour “brash”
- Hematemesis and melena
- Chest pain (it may be severe enough to mimic a myocardial infarct)
Reflux Esophagitis - Gross Findings
•vary according to the degree of severity from mild edema and hyperemia to erosions and ulcers.
Reflux Esophagitis - Microscopic Findings
- Uncomplicated: Epithelial basal zone hyperplasia, exceeding 20% of the epithelial thickness; eosinophils, lymphocytes with or without neutrophils within the epithelium; congestion and elongation of lamina propria papillae, extending into the top third of the epithelium.
- Severe cases: Erosions and ulcers covered by fibrinopurulent debris.
Reflux Esophagitis - Complications
•Bleeding, stricture formation and Barrett’s esophagus.
Barrett’s Esophagus
•Condition in which the distal squamous esophageal mucosa is replaced by columnartype epithelium (glandular mucosa) as a complication of prolonged reflux esophagitis.
- 10% of symptomatic GERD patients will develop BE
- Portends increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Barrett’s Esophagus - Pathogenesis
The proposed theory is that long standing gastroesophageal reflux leads to inflammation and ulceration with healing by reepithelialization and ingrowth of immature pluripotent stem cells. These stem cells, in a low pH environment, differentiate into a gastric or intestinal type of epithelium that is more acid resistant.
Barrett’s Espohagus - Gross Findings
Tongues of red velvety glandular mucosa contrasting with the pale pink squamous mucosa within esophagus. Length 3cm: Long segment BE.
Barrett’s Espohagus - Microscopic Findings
- The hallmark of diagnosis is intestinal metaplasia of esophagus characterized by goblet cells (Intracytoplasmic pale blue mucin vacuole with remaining cytoplasm assuming the shape of a wine goblet).
- Dysplasia is recognized by the presence of cytological and architectural abnormalities (enlarged, crowded and stratified hyperchromatic nuclei, glandular proliferation and crowding with loss of intervening stroma).
- Precursor of adenocarcinoma.
Barrett’s Espohagus - Diagnostic Criteria
- Endoscopic identification of tongues of salmon-colored glandular mucosa projecting into pearly white squamous lined esophagus >/= 1cm in length
- AND • Histologic documentation of intestinal metaplasia, characterized by goblet cells within this salmon-colored patch
- Presently, intestinal metaplasia (goblet cells) is required for the diagnosis of Barrett’ s esophagus because intestinal metaplasia is the only type of esophageal columnar epithelium that clearly predisposes to malignancy
Barrett’s Espohagus - Risk Factors
• Well established risk factors for BE:
– Age >50
– White Male
– Chronic GERD with frequent symptoms
– Current or past history of smoking
– Central obesity
– First degree relative with BE and/or EAC
• Patients with multiple risk factors undergo screening for BE.
Barrett’s Esophagus - Clinical Manifestations
*same as reflux esophagitis
- Commoner in adults >40 years of age.
- Also occurs in infants and children.
- Cardinal features: Dysphagia, Heart burn, Regurgitation of sour “brash”
- Hematemesis and melena
- Chest pain (it may be severe enough to mimic a myocardial infarct)
Barrett’s Esophagus - Complications
Include ulceration, bleeding, development of strictures and a 30-40 fold risk for the development of carcinoma.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Characterized by infiltration of esophageal mucosa by a large number of eosinophils, particularly superficially.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Pathogenesis
Majority of individuals are atopic with other allergic conditions such as asthma and moderate peripheral eosinophilia. Etiology is believed to be allergy to food.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Clinical Features
Typical history of dysphagia and food impaction. Adults and children.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Complications
Stricture formation, esophageal dysmotility
Endoscopic Features of EoE
Microscopic Features of EoE
Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Management
- Identification of allergens and dietary restriction
- Proton pump inhibitors: Mechanism of action is by blocking recruitment of eosinophils and release of eotaxin
- Topical steroids
Chemical Induced Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Ingestion of mucosal irritants (ETOH, corrosive acids or alkalis) excessively hot fluid and heavy smoking; induced injury ranges from mild erythema and edema to severe necrosis and inflammation. Localized esophageal erosions may result from pharmaceutical tablets or capsules “sticking” to the mucosa (Pill-induced esophagitis).
Infection
- In debilitated and immunocompromised patients: -HSV and CMV are the most common viral etiologies. Both produce punch out ulcers. Nuclear inclusions of HSV are found in the remaining epithelium at the edge of the ulcer. Nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions of CMV are found in endothelial and stromal cells at the base of the ulcer.
- Candida is the most common fungus infecting the esophagus. Grossly it forms a gray-white pseudomembrane, which under the microscope has inflammatory debris, neutrophils and yeasts with pseudohyphi.
- Others: Uremia, radiation, GVHD and desquamative dermatologic conditions of pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa.
- HSV
- margination of chromatin, ring around pink center
- giant cells with multiple nuclei
- CMV
- individual cells are enlarged
- intranuclear inclusion
HSV vs. CMV
•Candida Esophagitis
Mallory-Weiss Tear
- Longitudinal mucosal tear near gastroesophageal junction (GEJ)
- Associated with severe retching or vomiting secondary to acute alcohol intoxication; due to failure of GEJ musculature to relax before anti-peristaltic wave of vomiting.
Esophageal Neoplasms
- Benign: Rare and most are of mesenchymal origin.
- Malignant: Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Epidemiology
•Geographic variability: High incidence in Northern Iran, North China, Puerto Rico, South Africa and Eastern Europe and relatively uncommon in the USA
- Male to female ratio of 4:1.
Age of disease is generally older than 50.
African Americans are affected more than are Caucasians
- The incidence in the USA is rapidly declining
Dietary Factors Associated with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Vitamins deficiency (A, C, riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine)
- Deficiency of trace metals (zinc, molybdenum)
- Fungal contamination of foodstuffs
- High content of nitrites/nitrosamines
- Betel chewing
Lifestyle Factors Associated with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
•Alcohol, tobacco and urban environment: Majority of cases in USA and Europe are linked to alcohol and tobacco use, which act synergistically.
Esophageal Disorders Associated with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
•Long-standing esophagitis, achalasia and Plummer-Vinson syndrome (esophageal webs, iron deficiency anemia and glossitis)
Genetic Predisposition Associated with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Long-standing celiac disease
- Ectodermal dysplasia, epidermolysis bullosa
- Tylosis palmaris at plantaris
- Racial predisposition
- HPV-DNA is frequently found in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from high incidence regions: its presence in similar cancers in North America is infrequent.