Gastric carcinomas Flashcards
Gastric carcinomas are mostly _______ (type of cancer)
adenocarcinomas
Is T1 or T2 a better prognosis of a gastric adenocarcinoma?
T1
How are T1 gastric adenocarcinomas commonly described as?
Signet ring carcinomas
(Undifferentiated and aggressive)
What are causes of gastric carcinomas?
H pylori
Smoking
CDH-1 mutation (mutated Cadherin gene)
Family history
Pernicious anaemia
How does pernicious anaemia increase risk of gastric carcinoma?
Pernicious anaemia can be caused by autoimmune destruction of IF glycoprotein or destruction of fundal parietal cells that produce IF.
Chronic inflammation with atrophy of gastric mucosa leads to risk of gastric neoplastic lesions.
What are symptoms of gastric carcinomas?
Severe epigastric pain (like gastritis, worse)
Anaemia (iron deficiency, occult blood loss)
Progressive dysphagia
Weight loss
Tired all the time
What are signs of gastric carcinoma metastases?
Jaundice (liver)
Krukenberg tumour (ovaries)
Lymph node spread
Which lymph nodes do gastric carcinomas commonly metastasise to?
Virchow’s node: supraclavicular
Sister Mary Joseph node: umbilical
How are gastric carcinomas diagnosed?
Gastroscopy and biopsy
CT/MRI for staging
PET to identify mets
What staging tool is used for gastric carcinomas?
TNM (tumour, nodes, metastasis)
What is treatment for gastric carcinomas?
Surgery
If resectable, “ECF” chemo regimen
What 3 drugs are involved in ECF chemotherapy?
Epirubicin
Cisplatin
Fluorouracil
