Histopathology 10 - Pancreas and gall bladder Flashcards
What is the exocrine pancreas composed of?
Ducts and acini
What do the acini do?
Secrete enzymes
What hormones secreted by the endocrine component?
Insulin and glucagon, somatostatin
Acute pancreatitis pathophysiology
Acute inflammation of pancreas caused by aberrant release of pancreatic enzymes
Most common cause of acute pancreatitis
Gallstones (50%)
I GETSMASHED
Idiopathic Gallstones Ethanol Trauma Steroids Mumps Autoimmune Scorpion venom Hypercalcaemia/hyperlipidaemia ERCP Drugs
What effect on calcium can acute pancreatitis have?
Can cause HYPOcalcaemia so if hypercalcaemia is the cause of someone’s pancreatitis, in the acute phase their calcium may be normal
Pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (Two main mechanisms)
Duct obstruction
- Stone distal to where common bile duct and pancreatic duct meet results in reflux of bile up the pancreatic duct followed by acinar injury and release of proenzymes
- Alcohol causes spasm/oedema of sphincter of oddi + the production of protein rich pancreatic fluid which obstructs the pancreatic ducts
Direct acinar injury (all other causes)
3 patterns of injury in acute pancreatiits
Periductal
Perilobular
Panlobular
Casue of periductal
Usually obstruction of the ducts
Cause of perilobular
Poor blood supply
Panlobular cause
Worsening of either periductal or perilobular
Why can pancreatitis cause hypocalcaemia?
Lipases are released from the inflamed pancreas and become activated, leading to fat necrosis. These free fatty acids will bind to calcium –> saponification which are seen as yellow-white foci
Pancreatic complication of acute AND chronic pancreatitis
Pancreatic pseudocyst formation
What is a pancreatic pseudocyst?
Collection of fluid WITHOUT an epithelial lining, only lined by fibrous tissue
Mortality rate for haemorrhagic pancreatitis
50%
Main cause of chronic pancreatitis
ETHANOL (80%)
Another common cause of chronic pancreatitis
50% cases associated with acute pancreatitis
Causes other than GETSMASHED for chronic panc?
Haemochromatosis, Cystic fibrosis (mucoviscocity)
Pattern of injury in chronic pancreatitis
Chronic inflammation with parencyhmal fibrosis and loss of parenchyma
Duct strictures with calcified stones
FIBROSIS AND SCARRING