Gastroenterology Flashcards
What is pellagra?
Deficiency of vitamin B3, niacin
What are the clinical features of pellagra?
Dermatitis, diarrhoea, dementia/delusions, leading to death
Name the only routinely recommend supplement in patients with alcoholism
Thiamine supplements
What are the cardic pathologies associated with carcinoid syndrome?
Tricuspid insufficiency and pulmonary stenosis
What is the best measure of acute likler failure?
INR (prothrombin time)
What part of the colon is most likely to be affected in ischaemic colitis?
Splenic flexure
What type of cancer is associated with achalasia?
Squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus
What type of cancer is associated with Barrett’s oesophagus?
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma
What vaccination is given to patients with coeliac disease?
Pneumococcal vaccine due to hyposplenism
You review a 34-year-old man who has had ulcerative colitis for the past 20 years. He describes a one week history of passing three bloody stools per day. Despite this he is eating well and denies abdominal pain.
Abdominal examination is unremarkable. What is this episode most likely to represent?
Mild exacerbation of ulcerative colitis
- A 62-year-old presents with upper abdominal pain. She has recently been discharged from hospital where she underwent an ERCP to investigate cholestatic liver function tests. The pain is severe. On examination she is apyrexial and has a pulse of 96 / min.
- What is the most likely diagnosis?
Acute pancreatitis
A 76-year-old woman presents with abdominal pain, distension and vomiting. She recently had an episode of acute cholecystitis and is awaiting a cholecystectomy. She feels her symptoms have returned over the past few days. On examination her abdomen is distended.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Gallstone ileus
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Ulcerative colitis
Describe the clinical features of Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Dysphagia, glossitis and iron-deficiency anaemia
What scoring system is used after endoscopy and provides a percentage risk of rebleeding and mortality?
Rockall score
Watery travellers diarrhoea with stomach cramps and nausea.
What is the most likely cause?
Enterotoxigenic E. coli
Name 3 gluten-free starchy foods
Rice, potatoes and corn (maize)
What is the first line test for diagnosis of small bowel overgrowth syndrome?
Hydrogen breath testing
Name 1 important side-effect of clindamycin
Diarrhoea (C. difficile)
Name 1 finding on biopsy consistent with a diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma
Signet ring cells
If symptoms of constipation don’t respond to a bulk-forming laxative such as isphagula husk. what should be tried next?
Osmotic laxative e.g. macrogol
What is the first line antibiotic for use in patients with C. difficile infection?
Oral vancomycin
How can you treat severe acute hypophosphataemia in adults?
Intravenous infusion of phosphate polyfusor
What pattern of liver disease is associated with paracetamol overdose?
Hepatocellular picture of liver disease
A 56-year-old woman who is known to have gallstones presents with severe epigastric pain and vomiting. On examination she is apyrexial and tender in the epigastrium.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Acute pancreatitis
What malignancy is associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis?
Cholangiocarcinoma
What genetic dynrome is associated with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?
MEN type 1
What is the management of a liver abscess?
Combination of antibiotics & drainage
Hepatitis B serology: what does HBsAg indicate?
- Acute disease - present for 1-6 months
- If present for over 6 months indicates chronic disease
Hepatitis B serology: what does anti-HBs indicate?
- Implies immunity (either exposure or immunisation)
- It is negative in chronic disease
Hepatitis B serology: what does IgM antiHBc indicate?
- Implies previous (or current) infection
- Appears during acute/recent hepatitis B infection and is present for about 6 months
Hepatitis B serology: what does IgG antiHBc indicate?
- Implies previous (or current) infection
- Persists after acute infection
Hepatitis B serology: what does HbeAg indicate?
Results from breakdown of core antigen from infected liver cells as is, therefore, a marker of HBV replication and infectivity
What is Maddrey’s discriminant function?
- Formula which decides whether to start glucocorticoid therapy in alcoholic hepatitis
Calculated by a formula based on the prothrombin time and serum bilirubin
What are the side effects of oral aminosalyclates?
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Exacerbation of colitis
- Acute pancreatitis (significantly more common as a side-effect with mesalazine than sulfasalazine)
Metabolic ketoacidosis with normal or low glucose. What should you consider?
Alcoholic ketoacidosis
What is Courvoisier’s law?
States that in the presence of painless obstructive jaundice, a palpable gallbladder is unlikely to be due to gallstones and is most likely to be due to malignancy, particularly pancreatic malignancy
What drug is used first-line to maintain remission in patients with Crohn’s
Azathioprine or mercaptopurine
What is the diagnostic investigation of choice for pancreatic cancer?
High-resolution CT pancreas
What is the management of a mild-moderate flare of ulcerative colitis extending past the left-sided colon?
Oral aminosalicylates should be added to rectal aminosalicylates, as enemas only reach so far
What blood result can indicate an upper GI bleed versus lower GI bleed?
High urea levels
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Oesophageal cancer
Apple core sign
What anti-emetic should be avoided in bowel obstruction?
Metoclopramide
What is the is the investigation of choice for suspected carcinoid tumours?
Urinary 5-HIAA
How long must a patient eat gluten for before testing for coeliac disease?
At least 6 weeks
By what mechanism does loperamide act through to slow down bowel movements?
Reduction in gastric motility through stimulation of opioid receptors
Low BP secondary to blood loss + deranged LFTs.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Ischaemic hepatitis
How do you monitor treatment in haemochromatosis?
Ferritin and transferrin saturation
List some of the complications of GORD
- Oesophageal carcinoma
- Barrett’s oesophagus
- Anaemia
- Benign strictures
How do you screen for haemachromatosis?
- General population: transferrin saturation
- Family members: HFE genetic testing
What is the management of a perianal abscess in Crohn’s?
Incision and drainage
If a mild-moderate flare of distal ulcerative colitis doesn’t respond to topical (rectal) aminosalicylates then what should be added?
Oral aminosalicylates
A 54-year-old female presents with a 3 month history of dysphagia affecting both food and liquids from the start, along with symptoms of heartburn.
What is the most likely underlying diagnosis?
Achalasia
How should a severe flare of UC be treated in hospital?
IV corticosteroids
What is the inheritence pattern of haemochromatosis?
Autosomal recessive
What is a Sister Mary Joseph nodule?
Sign of metastasis to periumbilical lymph nodes, classically from gastric cancer primary
What can cause increased ferritin without iron overload?
- Inflammation (due to ferritin being an acute phase reactant)
- Alcohol excess
- Liver disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Malignancy
A 44-year-old obese female is noted to have gallstones during an abdominal ultrasound, which was requested due to repeated urinary tract infections. Apart from the repeated UTIs she is otherwise well.
What is the most appropriate management of the gallstones?
Observation
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Crohn’s disease
There is a long segment of narrowed terminal ileum in a ‘string like’ configuration in keeping with a long stricture segment. Termed ‘Kantor’s string sign’.
What does the image demonstrate?
Diverticulosis
Shows multiple outpouchings of the colonic wall, which are characteristic of diverticulosis
What anti-emetic is contraindicated in Parkinsonism?
Metoclopramide
T2DM with abnormal LFTs.
What diagnosis shold you consider?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Patients with ascites secondary to liver cirrhosis should be given what drug?
Aldosterone antagonist e.g. spironolactone
In an acute upper GI bleed, what scoring system can identify low risk patients who may be discharged?
Blatchford score
A 55-year-old man presents to the Emergency Department with a short history of 24 hours of dark urine, pale stools and right upper quadrant pain. He mentions he is a part-time teacher and smokes 10 cigarettes a day. He has no relevant past medical history and is not on any medications.
On examination, his sclera appear yellow and his BMI is 29 kg/m².
Which of the following investigations will be the most valuable?
Abdominal ultrasound
A 40-year-old man presents with symptoms of dysphagia that have been present for many months. His investigations demonstrate lack of relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter during swallowing.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Achalasia
A 4-year-old presents with sudden onset of dysphagia. He undergoes an upper GI endoscopy and a large bolus of food is identified in the mid oesophagus. He has no significant history, other than a tracheo-oesophageal fistula repair soon after birth.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Benign oesophageal stricture
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Ulcerative colitis
This image demonstrates the complete loss of haustral markings in the distal part of the bowel (‘lead pipe colon’), consistent with ulcerative colitis