Gastrointestinal cancer

Question 1

what are the 2 types of oesophageal cancer?

Answer 1

adenocarcinoma (most common)

squamous cell carcinoma

Question 2

what are the risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus?

Answer 2

overweight

history of acid reflux

Question 3

what are the risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus?

Answer 3

smoking and alcohol

Question 4

what is the common pathway to developing an oesophageal adenocarcinoma?

Answer 4

lower oesophageal mucosa damaged by reflux - results in metaplasia (Barrett’s oesophagus) - adenocarcinoma

Question 5

what is the most common presenting symptom of oesophageal cancer?

Answer 5

dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

Question 6

investigation of oesophageal cancer?

Answer 6

upper GI endoscopy + biopsy

oeseophago-gastro-duodenoscopy

Question 7

what and where is the most common type of stomach cancer?

Answer 7

adenocarcinoma, normally in antrum or cardia

Question 8

what are the risk factors for gastric adenocarcinoma?

Answer 8

smoking
high salt diet
family history
chronic inflammation e.g. H.Pylori infections

Question 9

what are the specific symptoms of stomach cancer?

Answer 9

difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
weight loss
indigestion (dyspepsia) that doesn't go away
feeling full after eating small amounts
feeling or being sick

Question 10

diagnosis of stomach cancer?

Answer 10

endoscopy with biopsies

Question 11

what enlarged node may be a sign of gastric cancer?

Answer 11

Virchow’s nodes

Question 12

which lymph vessels drain into Virchow’s nodes?

Answer 12

vessels of the abdomen

therefore they particularly indicate gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer and kidney cancer, that has spread through the lymph vessels, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma