L08-Pathology of the oeso and cardia Flashcards
Oesophagus normal histology
- muscular walls to convey chewed food from pharynx to the stomach
- stratified squamous nonkeratinizing epithelium to withstand abrasion
- esophageal cardiac glands (simple tubular, mucous) in lamina propria (near stomach) and submucosal esophageal glands proper eases the passage of ingested food
- substantial muscularis mucosae
- muscularis externa:
o striated muscle in the upper third
o smooth muscle in the lower third
o mixed in the middle third
- physiologic muscular sphincters at two ends of esophagus: pharyngoesophageal and the gastroesophageal sphincters
- adventitia as the outermost layer (since retroperitoneal)
Esophagus-spectrum of pathologies
Congenital anomalies
Inflammation (esophagitis)
Barrett’s esophagus
Neuromuscular dysfunction
Neoplasia
Miscellaneous
Esophageal Congenital anomalies
- Atresia
- tracheo-esophageal fistula
- stenosis
- absence
- duplication
* All congenital anomalies of oesophagus are rare
Esophageal atresia and TE Fistula classification
Recgnizing esophageal atresia and TE fistula
Classes of Esophagitis
1) Reflux esophagitis
2) Infective esophagitis
- Fungal (Candidiasis, mucormycosis, aspergillus)
- Viral (Herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus)
3) Others
- irritants (alcohol, corrosive acids or alkalis in suicidal attempts), radiation, cytotoxic drugs, prolonged gastric intubation, achalasia.
Reflux esophagitis (definition, symptoms, causes, complications)
Reflux esophagitis occurs via frequent and protracted reflux of gastric contents in the esophagus.
Symptoms: heartburn and regurgitation
Causes:
- incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure
- Abnormal upper gastro-intestinal motility
- often associated with a sliding hiatus hernia
Complications:
- acute oesophagitis
- may be complicated by ulceration which, when healed, may lead to circumferential fibrosis and stricture formation
- may be complicated by Barrett’s esophagus
Reflux oesphagitis endoscopy and microscopy
Endoscopy:
- Inflammation ->Diffuse reddish mucosal surface
Microscopy:
- Increased polymorphs
- Squamous epithelium hyperplasia
- (above two both as the consequences of inflammation)
Hiatus Hernia (definition, causes, complications)
The protrusion (or herniation) of the upper part (cardia) of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm.
Causes:
- Increased intra-abdominal pressure (Obesity, heavy lifting, frequent or hard coughing, etc)
- incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter (e.g. loss of diaphragmatic muscular tone with ageing)
Complications:
- reflux oesophagitis
- Ulceration at the level of diaphragm as the point is under constant pressure
Infective esophagitis
1) Fungal esophagitis
- Candida, Aspergillus, Mucor
- in debilitated / immunocompromised patients
2) Viral esophagitis
- herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus
Biopsies help confirm the diagnosis
Fungal oesophagitis (pathogen, endoscopy and microscopy)
Candida, Aspergillus, Mucor (usu, in debilitated / immunocompromised patients)
Endoscopy:
- Inflammation ->Diffuse reddish mucosal surface
- similar to that of reflux oesophagitis
Microscopy:
- presence of yeasts and hyphae
- polymorph aggregation
- A ‘pseudomembrane’ is present (top) on the surface of the stratified squamous epithelium. It consists of desquamated epithelial cells and thin filament-like fungi.
Herpes oesophagitis (pathogen, microscopy)
Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Microscopy:
- Aggregates of microphage
- HSV Viral inclusion bodies
- multinucleated epithelial cells with ground-glass nuclei and margination of the chromatin
Cytomegalovirus oesophagitis (Pathogen, microscopy)
Caused by cytomegalovirus
Microscopy:
- Enlarged nucleus
- large intranuclear inclusion body surrounded by a clear halo
- Basophilic inclusions are seen also in the cytoplasm.
Other esophagitis (causes)
Causes include:
- ingestion of irritants (alcohol, corrosive acids or alkalis in suicidal attempts)
- radiation
- cytotoxic drugs
- prolonged gastric intubation
- achalasia.
Barrett’s esophagus (Location, Cause, Presentation, Complications, Clinical Considerations)
Location: At lower end of esophagus
Cause: A result of prolonged esophageal reflux
Presentation:
- Barrett’s esophagus appears as a red or pinkish, velvety mucosa. Surface and inner surface of esophagus changed from normal white to pink with white patches
- The distal esophageal squamous mucosa is replaced by metaplastic glandular columnar epithelium containing goblet cells (which is more resistant to gastric juice)
- The epithelium could be gastric, intestinal or mixed in composition.
- Presence of intestinal metaplasia(intestinal epithelium, glandular formation, goblet cells) are regarded as a hallmarks of Barrett’s esophagus.
Complications:
- dysplasia
- Peptic ulcer
- carcinoma (adenocarcinoma at lower 1/3 of esophagus)
Clinical Considerations:
Therefore, critical to the pathologic evaluation of patients with Barrett’s mucosa is the recognition of associated dysplasia, obtained by endoscopy with biopsy and histological examination. High-grade dysplasia demands clinical intervention as it may progress to adenocarcinoma.
Pathological relationship between peptic ulcer, gastric reflux & Barrett’s oesophagus