Oesophago-gastric malignancy Flashcards
What is the recent trend in incidence of gastric cancer?
- overall incidence decreasing
- incidence of tumours arising from cardia increasing
What is the peak age of gastric cancer?
70-80 years
In which regions is gastric cancer more common?
Japan, China, Finland and Colombia - more common in these regions than the West
What is the gender ratio of gastric cancer?
M:F 2:1
What is the key histological finding in gastric cancer?
signet ring cells
What are signet ring cells?
may be seen in gastric cancer; contain a large vacuole of mucin which displaces the nucleus to one side
What is a higher number of signet ring cells associated with in gastric cancer?
worse prognosis
What are 6 associations of gastric cancer?
- H. pylori infection
- Blood group A (gAstric cAncer)
- gastric adenomatous polyps
- pernicious anaemia
- smoking
- diet: salty, spicy, nitrates
What may be a disease that is negatively associated with gastric cancer?
duodenal ulcer
What are 4 presenting features of gastric cancer?
- Dyspepsia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anorexia and weight loss
- Dysphagia
What key investigation is needed to make a diagnosis of gastric cancer?
endoscopy with biopsy
What are 4 options for investigations for the staging of gastric cancer?
- CT-TAP (routine first line in most centres)
- Endoscopic ultrasound (superior to CT)
- PET CT
- Laparoscopy - to identify occult peritoneal disease
What is the routine first line staging investigation for gastric cancer in most centres?
CT of chest abdomen and pelvis
What type of gastric cancer is laparoscopy useful to identify?
occult peritoneal disease
Which type of gastric cancer is PET CT useful for identifying?
junctional tumours
What is thought to be the stepwise progression of gastric cancer?
intestinal metaplasia to atrophic gastritis to dysplasia, to cance
What is the favoured staging system for gastric cancer?
TNM
What is the risk of lymph node involvement in gastric cancer related to?
size and depth of invasion - early cancers confined to submucosa have a 20% incidence of lymph node metastasis
What are the 3 classifications of tumours of the gastro-oesophageal junction?
- Type 1: true oesophageal cancers, may be associated with Barrett’s oesophagus
- Type 2: carcinoma of the cardia, arising from cardiac type epithelium or short segments with intestinal metaplasia at the oesophago-gastric junction
- Type 3: sub-cardial cancers that spread across the junction. Involve similar nodal stations to gastric cancer
What are 6 aspects of potential management of gastric cancer?
- Sub-total gastrectomy
- Total gastrectomy
- Oesophagogastrectomy
- Endoscopic sub-mucosal resection
- Lymphadenectomy
- Chemotherapy
What type of gastric cancer is sub-total gastrectomy most likely to be used for?
proximally sited disease greater than 5-10cm from the OG junction
What type of gastric cancer is total gastrectomy most likely to be used for?
tumour <5cm from OG junction
What type of gastric cancer is oesophago-gastrectomy most likely to be used for?
type 2 junctional tumours (extending into oesophagus)
What type of gastric cancer is endoscopic sub-mucosal resection most likely to be used for?
early gastric cancer confined to the mucosa and perhaps the sub-mucosa (debated)
What type of lymphadenectomy is widely advocated by the Japanese?
D2 lymphadenectomy
Which patients with gastric cancer will receive chemotherapy and when?
most patients with gastric cancer, either pre- or post-operatively
What is the 5 year survival of early vs stage 3 gastric cancer?
91% vs 18%
What type of gastric cancer is associated with signet ring cells?
diffuse gastric cancer
What are 4 examples of specific forms or precancerous forms of gastric cancer?
- Menetrier’s disease (pre-cancerous)
- Krukenberg tumour
- Sister Mary Joseph nodule
- Linitis plastica
What is Menetrier’s disease?
pre-cancerous condition in which there is hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa (cause unknown)
there are large, gastric folds on body and stomach associated with increased mucus production
associated with parietal cell atrophy and hence reduced acid production
What is a Krukenberg tumour?
type of gastric cancer, also known as signet ring tumour due to pathological appearance of these cells which readily secrete mucin
Where do Krukenberg or signet ring tumours readily metastasise to?
ovaries