GI - Esophagus Flashcards
In a bird, what organ serves as a storage space for food in the GIT?
Crop
What species does esophageal hypertrophy happen in incidentally?
Horses & pigs
What is esophageal hypertrophy?
Hypertrophy of the inner circular smooth muscle layer of the distal/aboral esophagus
With esophageal hypertrophy, you may see concurrent aboral hypertrophy in what other organ?
ileum
aboral ileal hypertrophy
Esophageal hypertrophy is usually ____, with a rare associated with an increased risk of ____.
Incidental
choke
This is an esophagus of a horse. What is the pathology?
Esophageal hypertrophy
Cystic esophageal glands:
Gross appearance?
What are they?
When you find these, how should you interpret them?
What species do they occur in ?
white or grey cysts
normal esophageal glands dilated with mucous
incidental finding, doesn’t mean it killed the animal
dogs
This is the inner layer of a dog’s esophagus. What is the lesion?
Cystic esophageal glands
What is the other name for choke?
Esophageal impaction
What is choke?
obstruction by an esophageal foreign body
What can choke lead to?
pressure necrosis of the underlying mucosa
What is the lesion? What lead to this?
pressure necrosis of the esophagus
Choke
How did this animal most likely die?
Bonus points: what animal is this?
Choke/esophageal obstruction
horse
Megaesophagus is the result of ____/_____ of the esophageal muscle. It may be _____ or _____.
atony/weakness
segmental or diffuse
What does megaesophagus lead to?
failure of peristalsis, results in regurgitation
may lead to aspiration pneumonia
What are the two forms of megaesophagus?
Congenital idiopathic megaesophagus
Acquired
In the congenital form of megaesophagus, what species/breeds are susceptible?
In dogs (yes that’s one of the species), what is the cause?
dogs: Great Danes, German Shepherds, Irish setters
- caused by a defect in distention sensing afferent neurone
cats: siamese
horses: Friesian
What is the cause of the acquired form of megaesophagus?
secondary to systemic myasthenia gravis, lead toxicity, etc
basically it can be due to a lot of things
What is one cause of megaesophagus (probably acquired but idk) that we’ve touched on in other lectures?
Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA)
This is an equine esophagus. What is the lesion?
Bonus points: what breed is this probably?
Megaesophagus
Friesian
Can ulcerative viral diseases that affect the oropharynx also affect the esophagus?
Yes!
Dayna said this would make a good exam question, probably talking about sequelae or other symptoms other than oropharyngeal ones with ulcerative viral diseases.
What is the esophageal parasite that we need to know?
Spirocerca lupi
What species does Spirocerca lupi affect?
What climate does it like?
What is the intermediate host?
Canids and other carnivores
warm climates
dung beetles
Explain the pathology of how infection with Spirocerca lupi can lead to an aortic rupture.
- Animal gets infected with parasite
- Form granulomas within the submucosa of the distal esophagus with a track leading to the esophageal lumen
- Because part of the life cycle involves the intima of the aorta, it jumps to the aorta and invades the intima
- Aortic rupture (rare, but it happens)
Explain the pathology of how an infection with Spirocerca lupi can lead to sarcoma development.
- Animal gets infected with parasite
- Form granulomas within the submucosa of the distal esophagus with a track leading to the esophageal lumen
- Sarcoma development at the site of the granuloma
This is an esophagus. What is the lesion? What is the etiology?
Lesion: granulomas within the submucosa
Etiology: Spirocerca lupi parasite
Esophageal neoplasias are relatively rare. Give me 2 reasons why they might develop.
- Papillomavirus
- Spirocera lupi
