Esophagus, thoracic & Breast Flashcards
How far does the esophagus extend
Extend from the laryngopharynx to the cardiac offices of the stomach
What are the 4 divisions of the esophagus
Cervical
Upper thoracic
Middle thoracic
Lower thoracic
How are the divisions of the esophagus measured
Measure from the patient’s incisors
Describe the cervical esophagus
Starts roughly at C6-T2/3
18cm from incisors
Begins at cricoid cartilage to thoracic inlet at suprasternal notch
Where is the thoracic esophagus
Begins at the suprasternal notch and extends to the carina
24cm from incisors
Roughly 6cm long
Where is the middle thoracic esophagus
Begins at the carina and extends down to the EG junction of stomach
Roughly 32cm from incisions
Roughly 8cm long
Where is the lower thoracic esophagus
The abdominal esophagus
Roughly 8cm long
40cm from incisors
What’s is the esophagus’s location in reference to the trachea and vertebral column
Esophagus is posterior of the trachea and anterior of the vertebral column
What are the layers of the esophagus
Mucosa (innermost)
Muscularis mucosa
Sub-mucosa
Thin loose connective adventitia (no serosal) - outer most
Esophageal wall greater then ______ is considered abnormal
5mm
T/F
Esophageal cancer is 3 times greater in female than males
False
Esophageal cancer is 3 times greater in males than females due to drinking and smoking
Esophageal cancer that are found in the upper and middle thoracic is what type of cell (histology)
Squamous cell carcinoma
Esophageal cancer that are found in the distal 1/3 of the esophagus is what type of cance (histology)
Distal 1/3 esophagus is Adenocarcinoma
Why is esophageal cancer more common in Asia
More common found in asia due to diet
What is Barrette’s esophagus
Is commonly due to GERD
It’s a change in the distal esophagus from stratified squamous epithelium to columnar epithielium
Associated with Adenocarcinoma (distal 1/3 esophagus)
What is Achalasia
The lower 2/3 of the esophagus loses peristaltic activity
EG junction sphincter fails to relax and food fails to pass into the stomach
5-20 percent risk for squamous cell carcinoma
What s the EG Junction
Junction where the esophagus meets the stomach
When treating a patient with esophageal cancer, why might consider treating the patient in prone position?
So that gravity can pull the esophagus away from the spinal cord and other critical structures
What are the radiation treatment fields for esophageal cancer
AP/PA with posterior obliques with wedges or laterals
Come off the cord at 45Gy
Total of 50Gy; patient and stage dependent
The thyroid/thyroid cancer is cancer of what gland
Endocrine gland
Thyroid produces what kind of hormones
Several kind but the most common is T3 and T4 for metabolic regulations
What regulates thyroid function
Thyroid functions are regulated by the pituitary gland and hypothalamic hormones
What is TSH
It is a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
TSH stimulates the thyroid cells to produce and releases hormones that are critical for carbohydrate and protein metabolism
Describe the location of the thyroid gland
It’s located inferior to the larynx at the level of the cricoid cartilage
Connected at the midline by the isthmus
Consist of right and left lobes (lateral lobes)
What and where are the parathyroid glands
Parathyroid glands are located on the posterior aspect of the thyroid lobes
It’s involved with the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus
What are examples of hyperthyroidism
Grave’s disease ( muscular weakness, abnormal weight loss, exophthalmos- bulgy eyes)
Goiter disease (enlarge thyroid gland caused by enlarged thyroid cells caused by overstimulation of TSH)
Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer. 2 percent of all cancer is papillary but ___________ is the most common
Mixed papillary follicular
What is the only documented factor that causes thyroid cancer
External radiation at a young age (multiple dental X-rays or some diagnostic X-rays)
What are the treatment type for thyroid cancer
Surgery
Radioactive iodine I-131 for papillary, mixed papillary follicular or follicular
XRT combined with I-131 and/or surgery (3DCRT or IMRT to include entire gland, neck and superior mediastinal nodes