gastro Flashcards
what is a characteristic sign of gastric cancer on biopsy
signet ring cells
name 4 risk factors for gastric cancer
H.Pylori
atrophic gastritits
diet
smoking
give 2 signs of lymphatic spread of gastric cancer
left Supraclavicular lymph node - Virchow’s node
Periumbilical nodule - Sister Mary Josephs node
3 investigations indicating alcohol hepatitis
macrocytic anaemia
increased GGT
AST : ALT > 2:1
management of alcoholic hepatitis
glucocorticoids- prednisolone
dyspepsia - criteria for an urgent referral
all patients with dysphagia
all patients with upper abdominal mass consistent with stomach cancer
patients > 55 with weight loss + upper abdo pain, reflux and dyspepsia
t cell lymphoma is associated with an increased risk in patients with _____________?
coeliac disease
what are carcinoid tumours
they occur when liver metastases occur and seretonin is released into the systemic circulation
signs of a carcinoid tumour
flushing
diarrhoea
bronchospasm
hypotension
what medication can be used to help manage HCC
Sorafenib
how do gastric and duodenal ulcers present
gastric - epigastric pain worsened by eating
duodenal - epigastric pain when hungry, relieved by eating
prophylaxis for variceal haemorrhage
propranolol
how is life threatening C. Diff treated
oral vancomycin and IV metronidazole for 10-14 days
what is the first line treatment of C. Difficile
oral vancomycin for 10 days
which medications cause c diff
co-amoxiclav
cephalosporins - ceftriaxone
clindamycin
ciprofloxacin
what are the features of c difficile ? what is a complication of severe c difficile
diarrhoea
abdominal pain
raised WCC
severe C.difficile can lead to toxic megacolon
what is the second line therapy for c difficile
oral fidaxomicin
what is courvoisier’s law ?
it states that the presence of painless obstructive jaundice, a palpable gallbladder is unlikely to be due to gallstones.
what is the chief investigation for pancreatic carcinoma ? what sign may be present ?
high resolution CT scanning. double duct sign
what procedure is used to treat resectable pancreatic cancer
whipples resection - pancreaticoduodenectomy
A combination of liver and neurological disease points towards _________.
wilsons disease
what is the nature of inheritance of wilsons disease? which chromosome does it effect?
Autosomal recessive. chromosome 13
first line management of wilson’s disease
penicillamine = chelates copper
which blood test confirms pernicious anaemia
instrinsic factor antibodies
what is the pathophysiology of pernicious anaemia
antibodies to intrinsic factor + /- gastric parietal cells
which blood test also needs to be done in addition to TTG in patients whom coeliac diseases is suspected ?
IgA
4 findings on endoscopy suggesting coeliac disease
villous atrophy
crypt hyperplasia
increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes
lamina propria infiltration with lymphocytes
liver failure post MI suggests ______.
Ischaemic hepatitis
which conditions can lead to budd chiari syndrome
underlying haematological disease such as -
polycythaemia rubra vera
thrombophilia
pregnancy
combined oral contraceptive
features of budd chiari syndrome
abdominal pain
ascites
tender hepatomegaly
which vitamin taken in high doses during pregnancy be teratogenic ?
Vitamin A
what is the management of barret’s oesophagus ?
high dose PPI therapy and endoscopic surviellence
all patients with suspected upper GI bleed recquire ______ within ____ of admission
endoscopy within 24 hours
what is the pathophysiology of primary biliary cholangitis
thought to be an autoimmune condition where interlobular bile ducts are damaged by a chronic inflammatory process causing progressive cholestasis which can progress to cirrhosis.
what are the clinical features of primary biliary cholangitis ?
asymptomatic
RUQ pain
itching
fatigue
cholestatic jaundice
which antibodies are specific for primary biliary cholangitis
AMA
raised serum IgM
first line management of PSC
ursodeoxycholic acid
give microscopic features of UC
ileocoecal valve to rectum, continous disease
no inflammation beyond submucosa
crypt abscesses
give microscopic features of crohns disease
mouth to anus –> skip lesions
inflammation of all the levels
goblet cells
granulomas
which conditions are associated with UC
PSC
Uveitis
colorectal cancer
UC can cause UC
which test is recommended for H.Pylori post eradication therapy
urea breath test
signs of vitamin C deficiency
easy bruising
bleeding and receding gumbs
UC or Crohns - granuloma
Crohns
UC or Crohns - granuloma
Crohns
Red flag symptoms for gastric cancer includes
new-onset dyspepsia in a patient aged >55 years
unexplained persistent vomiting
unexplained weight-loss
progressively worsening dysphagia/
odynophagia
epigastric pain
3 characteristic markers of autoimmune hepatitis
ANA
SMA
raised IgG
management of autoimmune hepatitis
steroids + other immunosuppressants like azathioprine
liver transplant
symptoms of a pharyngeal pouch
dysphagia
regurgitation
halitosis
management of pharyngeal pouch
surgical resection
investigation for a pharyngeal pouch
barium swallow with dynamic video fluoroscopy
which is the most common site affected in Ulcerative colitis ?
Rectum
how should a severe flare up of UC be treated
IV Corticosteroids
how would you initially diagnose H.Pylori
Carbon 13 urea breath test or stool antigen test
what are the 3 criteria for DKA
diabetes / hyperglycaemia
ketones
acidosis
which medications are used to induce remission in crohns disease
glucocorticoids ( oral /topical/IV)
What should be measured to best assess synthetic function of the liver
PT ( prothrombin time)
which are the most useful investigations used for monitoring the adequacy of treatment of haemachromatosis
ferritin + transferrin saturation
what is the management of Alcoholic ketoacidosis
Infusion of saline and thiamine
which is the first line medication used in Ascites ?
Spironolactone
isolated rise in bilirubin is seen in which condition
Gilberts syndrome
which medication should be avoided in suspected bowel obstruction and why
Metoclopramide as it has pro-kinetic properties that can stimulate peristalsis and perforation
which serology is requires for the diagnosis of Coeliac disease ?
TTG and EMA
how is C.Difficile infection diagnosed
by detecting C.Difficile toxin in the stool
clinical feature of achalasia
dysphagia of both liquids and solids
what sign is seen in Achalasia on barium swallow
Birds beak appearance
what medication is given as prophylaxis for upper GI bleed ?
Propranolol
what sign is seen on abdominal xray in ischaemic colitis
thumb printing
which part of the bowel is typically effected by ischaemic colitis
large bowel
what particular risk factors tends to be present in bowel ischaemia
atrial fibrillation
which condition presents with crypt abscesses in the bowel
UC
Which condition presents with goblet cells and granulomas of the bowel
crohns disease
what is the characteristic iron study profile that is seen in hereditary haemachromotosis
raised transferrin sats
raised ferritin
low TIBC
regurgitation of foul smelling liquid is seen in which condition
pharyngeal pouch
which haematological condition can aminosalicyclate drugs cause
Heinz body anaemia
what is the M rule for primary biliary cirrhosis
- IgM
-AMA
Middle aged females
what is the first line management of primary biliary cirrhosis
Ursodeoxycholic acid
give 2 medications that are used first line in maintaining remission in crohns disease
Azathioprine
Mercaptopurine
which medication is used in patients with Crohns disease who develop a perianal fistula
oral metronidazole
when is a draining seton used?
It is used in the management of complex fistulae
what medication is used to manage ascites
aldosterone receptor antagonist
which receptors does loperamide act upon
opioid receptors
an isolated rise in bilirubin due to physiological stress is caused by -
gilberts syndrome
what is the adverse affect of aminosalicylates
agranulocytosis
what is the investigation of choice for suspected perianal fistula in patients with crohns disease
MRI Pelvis
What is the management of a perianal abscess
incision and drainage
give 4 causes of ulcerative colitis flare
stress
medications ( NSAIDs , antibiotics)
Cessation of smoking
how do you distinguish a severe UC Flare up from moderate-mild flare up ?
severe flare ups present with systemic involvement such as fever, tachycardia , anaemia, abdo tenderness etc
how do you manage a pharyngeal pouch?
surgical resection and repair
which is a common side effect of mesalazine
Acute pancreatitis
what are esophageal varices and what are they caused by
Dilated veins that arise due to portal HTN, secondary to cirrhosis.
what are the signs and symptoms of oesophageal varices ?
asymptomatic until a bleed occurs
haematemesis
melena
palpitations
syncope
hypotension
how are oesophageal varices investigated
endoscopy
which medication reduced portal HTN ?
Terlipressin
what are carcinoid tumours and where do they arise from
Carcinoid tumours are rare, slow growing neuroendocrine malignancies that arise from the enterochromaffin cells
most common site is appendix
what are the key features of carcinoid tumours ?
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
flushing
wheezing
pulmonary stenosis
how are carcinoid tumours managed ?
pharmacological therapy such as Octreotide to inhibit tumour products
what is the difference between carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid tumour
in a carcinoid syndrome, liver metastases impairs hepatic excretion of serotonin increase serotonergic symptoms whereas in carcinoid tumours there is a neuro-endocrine tumour.
what are the key investigations for carcinoid tumours ?
hormone level assessments - 5 HIAA ( breakdown product of serotonin in urine)
imaging
tissue biopsy
give 2 dermatological, 2 ocular and 2 musculoskeletal manifestations of crohn’s disease
dermatological
erythema nodosum
pyoderma gangrenosum
ocular
anterior uveitis
episcleritis
MSK
arthritis
sacro-iliitis
what is the ‘’ string sign of Kantour’’
string like appearance of contrast filled narrowed terminal ileum and is suggestive of crohn’s disease
give 4 features of crohns on colonoscopy
skip lesions
cobblestone mucosa
rose thorn ulcers ( fistulae or abscesses)
Non-caseating granulomas
what is the first line management of crohn’s to induce remission ?
what can be added ?
what is used to maintain remission ?
Monotherapy with glucocorticoids ( prednisolone / IV Hydrocortisone)
Azathioprine or Mercaptopurine may be added on to induce remission.
Azathioprine or Mercaptopurine should be offered first line to maintain remission.
what is pre-hepatic jaundice? what are its causes ?
high levels of unconjugated bilirubin which is not water soluble so it can’t enter the urine.
causes include -
gilbert’s disease
haemolysis ( malaria / haemolytic anaemia)
drugs ( Rifampicin)
what is hepatic jaundice ? what are its causes ?
conjugated hyperbilirubinemia
viruses ( Hepatitis)
alcohol
cirrhosis
malignancy
haemochromatosis + A1AT
drugs ( pctmol, valproate, statins, TB drugs)
what is post-hepatic jaundice ? what are its causes ?
Impaired excretion of conjugated bilirubin making urine dark and stools pale
v high ALP
primary biliary cirrhosis
primary sclerosing cholangitis
bile duct gallstones / mirizzi’s syndrome
drugs ( nitrofurantoin, steroids, co amoxiclav, flucloxacillin)
malignancy ( pancreatic, cholangiocarcinoma)
biliary atresia
which patients should undergo urgent endoscopy in 2 weeks
ALARMS signs
Anaemia
Loss of weight
Anorexia
Recent onset of symptoms
melena / haematemesis
swallowing difficulties ( dysphagia)
( epigastric mass / difficulty swallowing)
which antibodies are positive in primary biliary cholangitis ?
AMA ( Anti mitochondrial antibodies)
give 4 long term complications of ulcerative colitis
colorectal cancer
cholangiocarcinoma
colonic strictures
primary sclerosing cholangitis
give 3 features of ulcerative colitis
diarrhoea containing blood / mucus
tenesmus / urgency
pain in LIF
acute exacerbation of UC can be assessed using _________
Truelove and Witt’s severity index
what signs are seen on imaging in UC
Colonoscopy –>continuous inflammation
loss of haustral markings
pseudo-polyps
Biopsy –> loss of goblet cells , crypt abscess, inflammatory cells
Barium enema –> lead pipe inflammation, thumb printing
what does positive HBsAg mean ?
positive hepatitis B surface antigen signifies current infection , either acute or chronic.
what do antiHBs and anti HBc signify?
Anti HBs –>previous infection/ previous vaccination
Anti HBc –> past infection/current infection
what is porphyria ? how does it present ? how is it diagnosed and treated ?
group of disorders resulting from defects in haem synthesis.
presents as abdominal pain, nausea, confusion and HTN
diagnosis = urinary porphobilinogen levels
supportive management
summarise melanosis coli
prolonged laxative abuse leading to dark brown pigmentation of macrophages in lamina propria
what are the four stages of hepatic encephalopathy
- altered mood, behaviour and disturbance of sleep
- drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech
- incoherence, asterix,restlessness,rousable
- coma
what is the management of giardiasis
Metronidazole
what is the management of upper GI bleed due to varices
Resuscitation + blood transfusion involving FFP
Terlipressin
IV Abx
variceal band ligation
sengstaken blakemore tube for severe
what is the long term prevention of variceal bleeding
non selective beta blockers and variceal band ligation
transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt ( TIPSS)
how to manage mild - moderate disease in UC
Topical ASA
consider switching to oral ASA
how to manage severe UC
IV hydrocortisone
how does primary sclerosing cholangitis present ? what antibodies are positive
abnormal LFT’s
Juandice
RUQ pain
fatigue, weight loss, fevers and sweats
UC association
ANCA positive
what condition is trousseau syndrome associated with
Pancreatic cancer
how does entamoeba histolyca present ?
Bloody diarrhoea
Liver Abscess
RUQ pain
which gene mutation is responsible for Gilberts syndrome
UDP Glucuronosyltransferase 1
how long should patients with C.Difficile have to isolate ?
at least 48 hours
what is Courvoisier’s law in the context of pancreatic cancer?
In the context of painless obstructive jaundice, a palpable gallblader is unlikely to be caused by gallstones.
what are the symptoms of haemochromatosis ?
fatigue
erectile dysfunction
arthralgia of the hands
bronze skin pigmentation
liver disease
cardiac failure