GI tumours (upper tract) Flashcards
Identify the main types of oesophageal tumours (both benign, and malignant).
OESOPHAGUS
Benign (5%):
-Mesenchymal tumors
-Squamous papillomas
Malignant:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (90%)
- Adenocarcinoma
- Others (carcinoid, malignant melanoma, lymphoma, sarcoma)
Name examples of benign oesophageal tumours.
- Leiomyomas
- Fibromas
- Lipomas
- Haemangiomas
- Squamous papillomas
Identify the main types of stomach tumours (both benign, and malignant).
STOMACH
Benign:
-Polymps (non-neoplastic, and adenomas)
-Mesechymal
Malignant:
- Carcinoma
- Lymphoma
- Carcinoid
- Mesenchymal
Describe the epidemiology of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Age >50
- Male to female ratio 2:1 to 20:1
- Geographic variation (especially common in Iran, Central China, South Africa)
Identify risk factors for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
1) Dietary
- Deficiency of vitamins (A, C, riboflavin)
- Fungal contamination of foodstuffs
- High content of nitrites/nitrosamines (preservatives in red meat, when fried, produce carcinogens )
2) Lifestyle
- Burning hot beverages or food
- Alcohol and tobacco
3) Oesophageal disorders
- Long standing oesophagitis (e.g. GORD) and achalasia (defective lower oesophageal sphincter)
4) Genetic predispositon
Describe the usual location of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma within the oesophagus.
20% of SCCs occur in upper 1/3
50% in middle third
30% in lower third
Describe the macroscopic morphology of oesophageal SCC.
Small, grey-white, plaque like thickenings that become tumorous masses.
Three patterns:
1) Protruded polypoid exophytic (60%), grows towards ulcer lumen
2) Flat, diffuse, infiltrative (15%)
3) Excavated, ulcerated (25%)
Eventually, may result in complete obstruction of the eosophagus
How do we diagnosis oesophageal/gastric cancer ?
Gastroscopy
How would a oesophageal cancer of the middle third of the stomach look in a barium swallow X ray ?
Middle 1/3 narrow and squashed (due to tumor growth)
Describe the histology of oesophageal SCCs.
♦ Squamous epithelium affected
♦ 3 main features characteristic of malignant tumours in human body:
- Plemorphism
- Hyperchromatism (darker color of some cells, because dividing faster)
- Mitotic figures
♦ Different degrees of atypia (may be low or high grade dysplasia, with the latter having worse prognosis)
Identify the main clinical features of oesophageal SCC.
- Dysphagia
- Extreme weight loss (cachexia)
- Haemorrhage and sepsis (tumor eroding blood vessels around oesophagus)
- Cancerous tracheoesophageal fistula
- Metastases to lymph nodes (cervical, mediastinal, paratracheal, tracheobronchial, gastric and celiac)
What is the prognosis of oesophageal SCC, in terms of 5-year survival ?
PROGNOSIS: 5% overall five-year survival
Which part of the oesophagus is usually affected by adenocarcinomas ?
Lower 1/3 of oesophagus is usually affected by adenocarcinomas
What ages does oesophageal adenocarcinoma affect ?
Starting with age 40, with a median age of 60
Describe the pathophysiology of oesophageal adenocarcinomas.
First GORD (inflamed) with eosonophils, then metaplasia into columnar with goblet cells (intestinal epithelium) due to gastric reflux, then epithelium starts growing disorganised. Overall, 10% of all oesophageal adenocarcinomas arise from Barrett mucosa.
What are the main risk factors for oesophageal adenocarcinomas ?
Tobacco, and obesity
Describe the morphology, and histology of an oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
-Flat or raised patches or nodular masses, which may be infiltrative or deeply ulcerative
-Histology:
Intestinal cells, disordered
Mucin producing glandular tumors
Explain the TNM staging of oesophageal carcinoma.
Tis carcinoma in situ T1 invasion of submucosa T2 invasion of muscularis propria T3 invasion of adventitia T4 invasion of adjacent structures
N0 no node spread
N1 regional node metastases
M0 no distant spread
M1 distant metastases