GI Tumours and torsions Flashcards
What is a volvulus
Complete twisting of a loop of intestines around its mesenteric attachment
When can a volvulus occur
Stomach Small Intestines Caecum Transverse Colon Sigmoid Colon
What is the most common part of the body in which a volvulus forms
Sigmoid
What age group do sigmoid volvulus effect
Elderly
When do volvulus tend to present
Children + babies
Clinical presentation of a volvulus
- Bilious vomiting
- Failure to thrive
- Anorexia
- Constipation
- Bloody stools
- Abdo pain
- malnutrition
- Immunodeficiency
- Regurgitation of saliva
- Dysphagia and noisy gastric peristalsis may occur in chronic volvulus
How common is volvulus of the stomach
- Quite rare
What is the classical triad of GI obstruction features
- Vomiting
- Pain
- Failed attempts to pass an nasogastric tube
What is differential diagnosis of volvulus
- Acute obstruction
- Appendicitis, cholecystitis, constipatoin
- Gastroenteritis
- GORD
- Hepatitis
- Peptic Ulcers
- Pancreatitis
What would an abdominal x-ray show for volvulus diagnosis
- Sigmoid shows inverted U shape loop of bowel that looks a bit like a coffee bean
Other than AXR, what is used to diagnose for volvulus
- ULTRASOUND
- MRI
- CT
How is volvulus treated
Surgical correction
Name the surgical correction for Volvulus
Ladd’s procedure
What is Ladd’s procedure
Anti-clockwise rotation to correct error
What is non-surgical treatment of volvulus
GI compression with naso-gastric tube
Complications of volvulus treatment
- Intestinal ischaemia, mucosal necrosis + sepsis
- Perforation, peritonitis + death
- Malabsorption
- Growth retardation
In what part of the oesophagus is squamous cell carcinoma common
Middle third and upper third
Where do adenocarcinomas of the oesophagus take place
Lower third and cardia
What age of people does oesophageal carcinoma tend to effect
60-70yrs old
How is the incidence of SCC changing
Decreasing
What gender do SCCs effect
Males
Causes of SCC
- High levels of consumption
- Achalasia
- Tobacco use
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Low fruit + veg consumption
Why does obesity contribute to SCC
Increased reflux
What is Achalasia
Disorder where oesophagus has reduced ability to do peristalsis and transport food down
What decreases the risk of SCC
Diets rich in: fibre carotenoids folate Vit C
What epithelium do adenocarcinomas of the oesophagus occur in
Columnar-lined epithelium
Causes of adenocarcinomas
- Smoking
- Tobacco
- GORD
- Obesity (increased reflect)
Risk factors for adenocarcinomas
Same as SCC
Why are SCCs dangerous
People with SCCs are asymptomatic so when it is found it is EXTREMELY ADVANCED
Describe progressive dysphagia (SCC)
- Initially there is difficulty swallowing solids but dysphagia for liquids follows within weeks
- Dysphagia to solids AND liquids from the start this indicates banging disease
Clinical presentation of SCC/Adenocarcinoma
- Weight Loss
- Lymphadenopathy 3. Anorexia
- Pain due to impaction of food or infiltration of cancer into adjacent structures
- Oesophageal obstruction eventually causes difficulty in swallowing saliva, coughing and aspiration into lungs
- Signs from upper thirds of oesophagus (hoarseness and coughs)
How is oesophageal cancer diagnosed
- Oeosphagoscopy with biopsy
- Barium swallow
- CT scan/MRI/PET for tumour staging
Why is barium swallow for oesophagus cancer needed
Allows us to see strictures
How is oesophageal cancer surgically improved
- Combined with chemotherapy BEFORE SURGERY (improves outcome) + radiotherapy
When is there a best chance of oesophageal cancer cure
If tumour has NOT infiltrated outside the oesophageal wall (stage I)
If locally incurable or metastatic, how is oesophageal cancer treated
Systemic chemotherapy (stage II and III)
How is dysphagia treated
- Endoscopic insertion of expansing metal stent across tumour to ensure oesophageal potency
- Laser and alcoholic injections to cause TUMOUR NECROSIS and increase lumen size
- Palliative care
Survival rates of dysphagia
Low
What benign oesophageal tumour is most common
Leiomyomas
What other benign tumours can appear in the oesophagus
- Papillomas
- Fibrovascular types
- Haemangiomas
- Lipomas
What is a hemangioma
benign tumour of the blood vessels
What are leiomyomas
Smooth muscle tumours arising from the oesophageal wall
Characteristics of leiomyomas in the oesophagus
- Intact
- Well-encapsulated
- Within the overlying mucosa
- Slow-growing
Clinical features of leiomyomas
- Asymptomatic
- Dysphagia
- Retrosternal pain
- Food regurgitation
- Recurrent chest infections