Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

3 - GI > Gastrointestinal Cancers > Flashcards

Gastrointestinal Cancers Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the incidence of various common cancers of the G.I. tract

A
  • Bowel/colorectal cancer 4th most common cancer

- Other common caners include pancreas, oesophagus, stomach and liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

State the type of cancer in oesophageal cancer

A
  • Squamous cell carcinoma

- Lower third can develop adenocarcinoma - Barrett’s oesophagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the presentation of oesophageal cancer

A
  • Progressive dysphagia, red flags of dysphagia (ALARM):
  • Anaemia
  • Loss of weight
  • Anorexia
  • Recent onset of progressive symptoms
  • Masses/malaena
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

State he risk factors and investigation for oesophageal cancer

A
  • Risk factors - smoking, obesity, Barrett’s
  • Barium swallow shows narrowing of oesophagus
  • Endoscopy can confirm diagnosis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the type and location of gastric caner

A

Typically adenocarcinomas in the cardia or antrum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe the presentation of gastric cancer

A
  • Epigastric pain
  • Similar pain to peptic ulcer
  • Malaena - metabolism of blood from the upper GI tract
  • Haematemesis
  • Generally present late and therefore more advanced
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe the risk factors of gastric cancer

A
  • Risk factors - smoking, high salt diet, family history

- Chronic inflammation increases risk of malignancy - H. pylori infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Other than gastric cancer, describe other stomach cancers

A
  • Gastric lymphoma - MALT tissue
    • Similar presentation to gastric carcinoma
    • Most associated with H. pylori
    • Better prognosis than gastric carcinoma
  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)
    • Sarcomas - not epithelial
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe the causes of liver carcinoma

A
  • Primary malignancy very rare - hepatocellular carcinoma
    • Linked to underlying disease - alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis
  • Most spread through the blood (haematological), lymphs or through cavities (transcolemic)
  • Common primary sites include: colon, breast, prostate, gastric, oesophageal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the presentation of liver carcinoma

A
  • Jaundice
  • Hepatomegaly - irregular border common in metastases
  • Ascites
  • Painless
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Pruritis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the presentation of pancreatic cancer

A
  • Head: painless jaundice, weight loss, anorexia, fatigue
  • Body/tail: symptoms more vague - malabsorption, epigastric pain
  • 80% ductal adenocarcinomas
  • Enlarged, palpable, non-tender gall bladder - cause not from gall stones and could be cancer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the risk factors of pancreatic cancer

A
  • Family history, smoking
  • Men more affected, incidence increases with age
  • Chronic pancreatitis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the risk factors of large bowel cancer

A
  • Family history
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Polyposis syndromes (familial adenomatous polyposis)
  • Diet and lifestyle - rich in meat and processed food
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the screening of large bowel cancer

A
  • Aged 60-74 every 2 years

- Faecal occult blood - test for non-visble bleeding where positive results should be further investigated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the presentation of large bowel cancer

A
  • Right sided colon cancer - weight loss, anaemia, occult bleeding
    • Present later as caecum and ascending colon are more distensible
  • Left sided - more obstructive symptoms including constipation, abdominal pain, tenesmus, change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding, weight loss
  • Rectal cancer - rectal bleeding, tenesmus, weight loss
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the risk factors of small bowel cancer

A

IBD, coeliac disease, diet, polyposis syndromes

17
Q

Describe the presentation of small bowel cancer

A

Weight loss, colicky abdominal pain (every 3-5 minutes), blood in stools

18
Q

Describe GI cancer management

A
  • TNM staging
  • Blood test - FBC (iron deficient anaemia), tumours markers (CEA suggests colon cancer)
  • CT/MRI
  • Endoscopy/colonoscopy
  • Capsule endoscopy to look at small bowel - camera swallowed
  • Treatment - chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical resections
19
Q

Describe the type of cancer in GI cancers

A
  • Most cancers are adenocarcinomas

- Oesophageal cancers and anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas

20
Q

Describe the adenoma-carcinoma sequence relating to colorectal cancer

A
  • Benign growth of polyps (adenomas) from genetic changes may become hyperplastic and develop into adenocarcinomas
  • Due to activation of oncogenes, ineffective DNA repair, loss of tumour suppressor genes
21
Q

Describe the differential diagnosis of epigastric pain

A

Oesophageal varices, acute gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer

22
Q

Describe the different types of per rectum bleeding

A
  • Fresh red bleeding - bleeding low in GI tract - rectum
  • Bleeding with stools - infective such as inflammatory bowel disease
  • Malaena - bleeding higher up
  • Tenesmus - incomplete emptying, rectal pain - inflammatory bowel disease
23
Q

Describe the differential diagnosis of per rectum bleeding

A

Haemorrhoids, anal fissures, infective gastroenteritis, IBD, diverticular disease, adenocarcinoma of large colon, small bowel cancer

24
Q

Describe the differential diagnosis of changes in bowel habit

A
  • Thyroid disorder, IBD, medication related, IBS, coeliac disease, adenocarcinoma of large bowel, small bowel cancer
  • Hyperthyroid may present with looser stools while hypothyroidism may present with constipation

3 - GI (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions