Liver & Pancreas Pathology Flashcards
What are the two models of liver histology?
Lobular & Acini models.
What are the three zones of the hepatic acinus?
Periportal (Zone 1), Midlobular (Zone 2), Centrilobular (Zone 3).
What is the composition of the portal triad?
Bile duct, hepatic artery, portal vein.
What is the function of the central vein in the liver?
Drains blood from hepatocytes into the hepatic vein.
What are the types of hepatic degeneration?
Ballooning, foamy, and steatosis.
What is steatosis?
Accumulation of neutral fat (triglycerides) in liver cells.
What are the types of necrosis in the liver?
Coagulative and lytic (hydropic) necrosis.
What are Councilman bodies?
Dead hepatocytes found in apoptosis.
What is the main cause of centrilobular necrosis?
High dose of paracetamol toxicity.
What is the difference between fibrosis and cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis includes regenerative nodules surrounded by fibrosis, while fibrosis alone does not.
What is jaundice?
Yellowish discoloration of skin and sclera due to bilirubin retention.
What are the five main causes of jaundice?
Excessive bilirubin production, reduced uptake, impaired conjugation, decreased excretion, impaired bile flow.
What is kernicterus?
Accumulation of indirect bilirubin in the brain, leading to neurological damage.
What are the two types of jaundice?
Unconjugated (indirect) and conjugated (direct) jaundice.
Which form of bilirubin is water-soluble?
Conjugated (direct) bilirubin.
Which form of bilirubin can be excreted in urine?
Conjugated (direct) bilirubin.
What are the key liver function tests for hepatocyte integrity?
AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), LDH.
What are the key liver function tests for biliary excretory function?
Serum bilirubin, ALP, GGT.
What is the most specific test for liver failure?
Ammonia level.
What is cholestasis?
Systemic retention of bilirubin and other bile components due to hepatocellular dysfunction or obstruction.
What are common histologic features of liver cirrhosis?
Bridging fibrous septa, disruption of liver architecture, parenchymal nodules.
What is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis?
Alcoholic liver disease.
What is portal hypertension?
Increased resistance to portal blood flow leading to complications.
What are the three categories of portal hypertension?
Pre-hepatic, hepatic, post-hepatic.
What are the main complications of portal hypertension?
Ascites, esophageal varices, splenomegaly, hepatic encephalopathy.
What are the most common benign liver tumors?
Cavernous hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, nodular regenerative hyperplasia.
What is the most common primary malignant liver tumor?
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
What are major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma?
HBV, HCV, aflatoxin, cirrhosis, alcoholism, hemochromatosis.
What is the fibrolamellar variant of HCC?
A rare form of HCC occurring in young adults, not associated with cirrhosis.
What is the most effective treatment for HCC?
Surgical resection or liver transplantation.
What is the prognosis of HCC?
Poor, with median survival of 7 months.
What are the exocrine and endocrine functions of the pancreas?
Exocrine: digestive enzymes; Endocrine: insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, etc.
What genetic disorder affects the pancreas and lungs?
Cystic fibrosis.
What are the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis?
Alcohol abuse and gallstones.
What are the lab findings in acute pancreatitis?
Elevated serum amylase and lipase, hypocalcemia, hyperglycemia.
What is a major cause of pancreatic cancer?
Smoking.
What is the most common site of pancreatic cancer?
Head of the pancreas.
What is the most common type of pancreatic cancer?
Adenocarcinoma.
What are common symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Pain, jaundice, weight loss.
What are tumor markers for pancreatic cancer?
CEA, CA19-9.
