Gastric Pathology Flashcards
List the potential damaging forces acting on gastric mucosa.
H pylori infection NSAIDs Aspirin Cigarettes Alcohol Gastric hyperacidity Duodenal-gatric reflux
List the protective forces acting on the gastric mucosa
surface mucus bicarbonate secretion mucosal blood flow apical surface membrane transport epithelial regenerative capacity elaboration of prostaglandins
What’s the main mechanism of gastric mucosal injury?
just an imbalance between the damaging and protective factors
What’s the difference between a mucosal erosion and a mucosal ulcer?
erosion is loss and necrrosis of the surface epithelium confined to the LAMINA PROPRIA
ulceration is necrotizing process extending beyond the mucosa into the SUBMUCOSA and MUSLCE
What are the main causes of ACUTE gastric ulceration?
Acute infection with H pylori
First time NSAID use
Ingestion of large quantities of alcohol
shock, trauma, sepsis, uremia, burns (Curling ulcer) and intracranial pressure (Cushing ulcer)
What are the three common causes of CHRONIC gastritis?
H pylori
autoimmune gastritis
chronic reactive gastropathy
Describe the most common pathologic finding in H pylori gastritis
active chronic gastritis in the antrum, progressing toward the fundus
chronic inflammation with lymphocytes and plasma cells
Describe the complications of H pylori gastritis
mucosal erosions and peptic ulcers
MALT lymphoma
Gastric adenocarcinoma
Describe how one typically acquires H helmannii gastritis.
spread through contact with people’s pets - cats, dogs, pigs and nonhuman primates are carriers
List which H pylori diagnostic tests indicate ACTIVE infection.
Breath test (urease) Stool test (antigen) Biopsy stains
NOT the blood antibody test - that just shows exposure
Describe the pathogenesis of autoimmune gastritis
It’s due to autoimmune CD4+ T cell-mediated destruction of parietal cells
chief cells are also lost as collateral damage
NOTE: antibodies to parietal cells and intrinsic factor are produced as part of the autoimmune response, but are not pathogenic - can be used as a diagnostic test
Describe the key findings of autoimmune gastritis
- decreased gastric acid secretion
- compensatory hypergastrinemia and hyperplasia of antral gastrin-producing G cells
- vitamin B12 deficiency and associated symptoms
- reduced serum pepsinogen concentration (lost chiefs)
- inflammatory mucosal damage and atrophy of the mucosa in body and fundus
- intestinal metaplasia
Describe the complications of autoimmune gastritis.
Megaloblastic anemia atrophic glossitis malabsorptive diarrhea peripheral neuropathy CNS cognitive alterations
also adenocarcinoma and carcinoid
List the common causes of chronic reactive gastropathy.
it’s basically reaction to anything bad in the stomach: chemical mucosal injury associated with NSAIDs, aspirin, bile reflux and alcohol ingestion
(get proveolar hyperplasia and mucin depletion)
What are the two most common causes of peptic ulcer disease?
H pylori
chronic NSAID use
worse with both
(others are Zollinger-Ellison, GERD, heterotopic gastri cmucosa in a Meckel’s diverticulum, smoking, corticosteroids)
What are the three main complications of peptic ulcer disease?
Bleeding - clinical hemorrhage or IDA
Perforation Obstruction (particularly when located in pyloric channel)
plus any chronic gastritis can lead to gastric atrophy with intestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma
Describe the key pathological finding of eosinophilic gastritis.
It’s eosinophil-rich inflammation int he abscence of a known cause for the eosinophilia
probably secondary to some type of food allergic reaction
patients may have peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated IgE levels
Describe the key clinical features of eosinophilic gastritis.
Lesions may present with a mass, large ulcer or pyloric obstruction
usually presents with a gastroenteritis
typically includes involvement at multiple sites - esophagus, duodenum, stomach, etc.
Describe the pathologic features of granulomatous gastritis.
It’s gastritis with granulomatous inflammation
you’ll see granuloma formation in the mucosa of the stomach
usually secondary to an underlying disorder