Lower GI Malignancy Flashcards
List 3 key symptoms associated with Lower GI Malignancy
- Obstruction
- PR bleeding
- Change in Bowel habit
Often need to look at these together
What are 2 general signs/ symptoms of bowel Obstruction
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal distension (Can be due to air/ faeces etc)
List 6 non-malignant causes of Bowel Obstruction
- Intussusception (Bowel slides in on itself->narrows)
- Hernias
- Strictures
- Volvulus (Loop of bowel twists around itself + its mesentery)
- Diverticular disease
- Pyloric stenosis
Malignant Bowel Obstruction can be in the Small or Large bowel.
How would these differ on presentation?
Small bowel obstruction;
- Nausea/ Vomiting
Large bowel obstruction;
- Constipation (Can be Absolute- no gas passed)
List 2 red flags for bowel obstruction
- Weight loss
- Unexplained abdominal pain (Can’t treat/ identify cause etc)
List 5 non-malignant causes of PR Bleeding
- Haemorrhoids
- Anal fissure
- Infective gastroenteritis
- IBD
- Diverticular disease
Malignant PR Bleeding can either be due to Small or Large Bowel Cancer.
How would small bowel cancer present?
Small bowel cancer;
- Fresh
- Bright red
- Malaena
List the red flags for PR bleeding
- Iron deficiency anaemia (40)
- Weight loss (>40)
- Change in bowel habit (>50)
- Tenesmus (Feeling need to defecate after doing so, suggests cancer in Rectum)
What are 2 important components to asking about changes in bowel habit?
Suggest 2 associated symptoms to ask about
- Changes in frequency
- Changes in consistency (more watery)
- Bloating
- Abdominal discomfort
List 5 non-malignant causes of a change in bowel habit
- Thyroid disorders
- IBD
- Medications
- IBS
- Coeliac Syndrome
Suggest 2 red flags for PR bleeding
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Weight loss
Describe Large Bowel cancer (3rd most common cancer in UK)
- Tend to be Adenocarcinomas
- Tend to be due to Polyps changing to Adenoma
List 4 risk factors for Large Bowel Cancer
- Family history
- IBD
- Diet + lifestyle
- Polyposis syndromes (FAP, HNPCC)
How is large bowel cancer screened for?
Every 2 years in 65-70 year olds
- Faecal Occult samples to test for small amounts of blood
- If +ve, patient referred for colonoscopy
Describe FAP including, how Polyps can change to Adenocarcinomas
(Familial Adenomatous Polyposis)
- Autosomal dominant mutation in the TS gene, APC
- Leads to Polyp development on intestinal wall, which grow and become Adenocarcinomas by Dysplasia